Love
By a fountain where I lay
From Lyrics from the Song-Books of the Elizabethan Age, ed. A. H. Bullen (London: Nimmo, 1891)
By a fountain where I lay,
(All blessed be that blessed day!)
By the glimm'ring of the sun,
(O never be her shining done!)
When I might see alone
My true Love, fairest one!
Love's dear light!
Love's clear sight!
No world's eyes can clearer see!
A fairer sight, none can be!
Fair with garlands all addrest,
(Was never Nymph more fairly blest!)
Blessed in the highest degree,
(So may she ever blessed be!)
Came to this fountain near,
With such a smiling cheer!
Such a face,
Such a grace!
Happy, happy eyes, that see
Such a heavenly sight as She!
Then I forthwith took my pipe,
Which I all fair and clean did wipe,
And upon a heavenly ground,
All in the grace of beauty found,
Play'd this roundelay:
"Welcome, fair Queen of May!
Sing, sweet air!
Welcome, Fair!
Welcome be the Shepherds' Queen,
The glory of all our green!"
Codex Note
From John Dowland's Third and Last Book of Songs or Airs, 1603.
Cite this poem
MLA
Anonymous (Elizabethan songs). “By a fountain where I lay.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-elizabethan-songs/20/.
Chicago
Anonymous (Elizabethan songs). “By a fountain where I lay.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-elizabethan-songs/20/.
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