Flattering Hope, away and leave me,

She’ll not come, thou dost deceive me;

Hark the cock crows, th’ envious light

Chides away the silent night;

Yet she comes not, oh! how I tire

Betwixt cold fear and hot desire.

Here alone enforced to tarry

While the tedious minutes marry,

And get hours, those days and years,

Which I count with sighs and fears

Yet she comes not, oh! how I tire

Betwixt cold fear and hot desire.

Restless thoughts a while remove

Unto the bosom of my love,

Let her languish in my pain,

Fear and hope, and fear again;

Then let her tell me, in love’s fire,

What torment’s like unto desire?

Endless wishing, tedious longing,

Hopes and fears together thronging;

Rich in dreams, yet poor in waking,

Let her be in such a taking:

Then let her tell me in love’s fire,

What torment’s like unto desire?

Come then, Love, prevent day’s eyeing,

My desire would fain be dying:

Smother me with breathless kisses,

Let me dream no more of blisses;

But tell me, which is in Love’s fire

Best, to enjoy, or to desire?