Arts & Sciences

Such days as wear the badge of holy red

by Thomas Campion 1567–1620

From Two Books of Airs: Light Conceits of Lovers (c. 1613)

Arts & Sciences

Such days as wear the badge of holy red
Are for devotion marked and sage delight;
The vulgar low-days, undistinguished,
Are left for labour, games, and sportful sights.
This several and so differing use of time,
Within th' enclosure of one week we find;
Which I resemble in my Notes and Rhyme,
Expressing both in their peculiar kind.

Pure Hymns, such as the Seventh Day loves, do lend;
Grave age did justly challenge those of me:
These weekday works, in order that succeed,
Your youth best fits; and yours, young Lord, they be,
As he is who to them their being gave:
If th' one, the other you of force must have.

✦ ✦ ✦

Two Books of Airs: Light Conceits of Lovers (c. 1613)

MLA

Campion, Thomas. “Such days as wear the badge of holy red.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/campion/46/.

Chicago

Campion, Thomas. “Such days as wear the badge of holy red.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/campion/46/.

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