Love

I saw my Lady weep

by Anonymous (Elizabethan songs) c. 1588–1630

From Lyrics from the Song-Books of the Elizabethan Age, ed. A. H. Bullen (London: Nimmo, 1891)

Love

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.

✦ ✦ ✦

From John Dowland's Second Book of Songs or Airs, 1600.

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/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Anonymous (Elizabethan songs)