“O mistress mine”

William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

From “Twelfth Night,” Act II. Sc. 3.

O MISTRESS mine, where are you roaming?

O, stay and hear! your true-love ’s coming

That can sing both high and low;

Trip no further, pretty sweeting,

Journeys end in lovers’ meeting,—

Every wise man’s son doth know.

What is love? ’t is not hereafter;

Present mirth hath present laughter;

What ’s to come is still unsure:

In delay there lies no plenty,—

Then come kiss me, Sweet-and-twenty,

Youth ’s a stuff will not endure.