Good thoughts his only friends

When to her lute Corinna sings, Her voice revives the leaden strings, And both in highest notes appear, As any challeng'd echo clear. But when she doth of mourning speak, Ev’n with her sighs the strings do break.

I care not for these ladies, That must be wooed and prayed; Give me kind Amaryllis, The wanton country maid. Nature art disdaineth; Her beauty is her own.

Who, when we court and kiss, She cries, "Forsooth, let go!" But when we come where comfort is, She never will say no.

Follow thy fair sun, unhappy shadow, Though thou be black as night, And she made all of light, Yet follow thy fair sun, unhappy shadow.

My sweetest Lesbia, let us live and love, And though the sager sort our deeds reprove, Let us not weigh them: Heav'n's great lamps do dive Into their west, and straight again revive, But soon as once set is our little light, Then must we …

Follow your Saint, follow with accents sweet; Haste you, sad notes, fall at her flying feet.