Love
I saw my Lady weep
From Lyrics from the Song-Books of the Elizabethan Age, ed. A. H. Bullen (London: Nimmo, 1891)
I saw my Lady weep,
And sorrow proud to be advanced 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
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,
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;
Tears kill the heart, believe.
O strive not to be excellent in woe,
Which only breeds your beauty's overthrow.
Codex Note
From John Dowland's Second Book of Songs or Airs, 1600.
Cite this poem
MLA
Anonymous (Elizabethan songs). “I saw my Lady weep.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-elizabethan-songs/54/.
Chicago
Anonymous (Elizabethan songs). “I saw my Lady weep.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-elizabethan-songs/54/.
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