GOOD-MORROW. You that have spent the silent night In sleep and quiet rest, And joy to see the cheerful light That riseth in the east; Now clear your voice, now cheer your heart, Come help me now to sing: Each willing wight come, bear a part, To praise the heavenly King. And you whom care in prison keeps, Or secret sorrow breaks your sleeps, Yet bear a part in doleful wise, Yea, think it good accord, And acceptable sacrifice, Each sprite to praise the Lord. The dreadful night with darksomeness A glass wherein you may behold Each storm that stops our breath, Our bed the grave, our clothes like mould, And sleep like dreadful death. Yet as this deadly night did last But for a little space, And heavenly day, now night is past, Doth show his pleasant face: So must we hope to see God's face, At last in heaven on high, When we have changed this mortal place And of such haps and heavenly joys All earthly sights, and worldly toys, The day is like the day of doom, The sun, the Son of man; The skies, the heavens; the earth, the tomb, Wherein we rest till than. The rainbow bending in the sky, Is like the seat of God on high, To drown the world no more, The misty clouds that fall sometime, And overcast the skies, Are like to troubles of our time, The carrion crow, that loathsome beast, VOL. I. Both for her hue, and for the rest, The devil resembleth plain: The devil so must we o'erthrow, The little birds which sing so sweet, And as they more esteem that mirth, Unto which joys for to attain, Which never shall decay: GOOD-NIGHT. When thou hast spent the ling'ring day In pleasure and delight, Or after toil and weary way, Unto thy pains or pleasures past, 1 Teach:' for teacheth. Ere sleep close up thine eyes too fast, But search within thy secret thoughts, What deeds did thee befall, Yea, though thou findest nought amiss And think how well soe'er it be Thus if thou try thy daily deeds, Thy life shall cleanse thy corn from weeds, But if thy sinful, sluggish eye, How far thy soul may sink, Which soft and smooth is made, Thus if this pain procure thine ease, Perhaps it shall not God displease, To sing thus soberly: 'I see that sleep is lent me here, To ease my weary bones, 1 Wake:' watch. As death at last shall eke appear, To ease my grievous groans, 'My daily sports, my paunch full fed, Might cause my soul to die: The stretching arms, the yawning breath, And of my bed each sundry part, The sundry shapes of death, whose dart Shall make my flesh to tremble. My bed it safe is, like the grave, My sheets the winding-sheet, My clothes the mould which I must have, To cover me most meet. 'The hungry fleas, which frisk so fresh, And leave the bones full bare: Puts in my mind the trump that blows And as I rise up lustily, When sluggish sleep is past, So hope I to rise joyfully, To judgment at the last. Thus will I wake, thus will I sleep, Thus will I hope to rise, |