Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Anonymous. 160366. My Lady’s Tears John Dowland’s Third and Last Book of Songs or Airs
I SAW my Lady weep, | |
And Sorrow proud to be advancèd so | |
In those fair eyes where all perfections keep. | |
Her face was full of woe; | |
But such a woe (believe me) as wins more hearts | 5 |
Than Mirth can do with her enticing parts. | |
Sorrow was there made fair, | |
And Passion wise; Tears a delightful thing; | |
Silence beyond all speech, a wisdom rare: | |
She made her sighs to sing, | 10 |
And all things with so sweet a sadness move | |
As made my heart at once both grieve and love. | |
O fairer than aught else | |
The world can show, leave off in time to grieve! | |
Enough, enough: your joyful look excels: | 15 |
Tears kill the heart, believe. | |
O strive not to be excellent in woe, | |
Which only breeds your beauty’s overthrow. |