Western Wind

THE peaceful western wind The winter storms hath tamed, And nature in each kind The kind heat hath inflamed: The forward buds so sweetly breathe Out of their earthly bowers, That heav’n, which views their pomp beneath, Would fain be decked with flowers.

See how the morning smiles On her bright eastern hill, And with soft steps beguiles Them that lie slumbering still! The music-loving birds are come From cliffs and rocks unknown, To see the trees and briars bloom That late were overflown.

What Saturn did destroy, Love’s Queen revives again; And now her naked boy Doth in the fields remain, Where he such pleasing change doth view In every living thing, As if the world were born anew To gratify the Spring.

If all things life present, Why die my comforts then? Why suffers my content? Am I the worst of men? O beauty, be not thou accus’d Too justly in this case! Unkindly if true love be used, ’Twill yield thee little grace.