From John Dowland’s First Book of Songs or Airs, 1597.
Wilt thou, Unkind! thus ’reave me
Hope by disdain grows cheerless,
Fear doth love, love doth fear;
Beauty peerless,
Farewell!
If no delays can move thee,
Life shall die, death shall live
Still to love thee.
Farewell!
Yet be thou mindful ever!
Heat from fire, fire from heat,
None can sever.
Farewell!
True love cannot be changèd,
Though delight from desert
Be estrangèd.
Farewell!
From Thomas Campion’s Two Books of Airs (circ. 1613).
Wise men patience never want,
Some there are debate that seek,
Making trouble their content;
Happy if they wrong the meek,
Vex them that to peace are bent:
Such undo the common tie
Of mankind, Society.
Kindness grown is lately cold,
Conscience hath forgot her part;
Blessèd times were known of old
Long ere Law became an art:
Shame deterred, not statutes then;
Honest love was law to men.