When bright Phœbus at his rest,
Was reposèd in the West;
And the cheerful daylight gone,
Drew unwelcome darkness on:
Night, her blackness wrapt about me;
And within, 'twas as without me!
Therefore on my tumbled bed,
Down I laid my troubled head;
Where, mine eyes inured to care,
Seldom used to slumbering were:
Yet o'ertired of late, with weeping;
Then, by chance, they fell asleeping.
But such visions, me diseased,
As in vain that sleep I seized;
For I sleeping Fancies had,
Which, yet waking, make me sad.
Some can sleep away their sorrow!
But mine doubles every morrow.
Walking to a pleasant grove,
Where I used to think of love,
I, methought, a place did view
Wherein Flora's riches grew;
Primrose, hyacinth, and lilies,
Cowslips, vi'lets, daffodillies.
There, a fountain close beside,
I, a matchless Beauty spied.
So she lay as if she slept,
But much grief, her waking kept.
And she had no softer pillow
Than the hard root of a willow.
Down her cheeks, the tears did flow,
Which a grievèd heart did shew;
Her fair eyes, the earth beholding,
And her arms, themselves enfolding;
She (her Passion to betoken),
Sighed as if her heart were broken.
So much grief, methought, she shewed,
That my sorrow, it renewed:
But when, nearer her I went,
It increased my discontent;
For a gentle Nymph she proved,
Who, me (long unknown) had loved.
Straight on me she fixed her look;
Which, a deep impression took,
And "Of all that live," quoth she,
"Thou art welcomest to me!"
Then (misdoubting to be blamèd),
Thus she spake, as half ashamèd.
"Thee! unknown, I long affected
And, as long, in vain expected,
For I had a hopeful thought
Thou would'st crave, what others sought!
And I, for thy sake! have stayed
Many wanton Springs, a Maid."
"Still, when any wooèd me,
They renewed the thought of thee!
And, in hope thou would'st have tried!
Their affections, I denied.
But a lover forced upon me
By my friends, hath now undone me."