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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  65. Tears John Dowland’s Third and Last Book of Songs or Airs

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

Anonymous. 1603

65. Tears John Dowland’s Third and Last Book of Songs or Airs

WEEP you no more, sad fountains; 
  What need you flow so fast? 
Look how the snowy mountains 
  Heaven’s sun doth gently waste! 
But my Sun’s heavenly eyes         5
    View not your weeping, 
    That now lies sleeping 
Softly, now softly lies 
        Sleeping. 
 
Sleep is a reconciling,  10
  A rest that peace begets; 
Doth not the sun rise smiling 
  When fair at even he sets? 
Rest you then, rest, sad eyes! 
    Melt not in weeping,  15
    While she lies sleeping 
Softly, now softly lies 
        Sleeping.