Sunday, February 07, 2010

Winter Nights

Although we are getting towards the end of winter (fingers crossed) they are forecasting more really cold weather to come - though they seem to be being cagey about whether that means more snow & ice.



So a good time to read Thomas Campion's poem about how to cheer ourselves up.




Now winter nights enlarge
The number of their hours;
And clouds their storms discharge
Upon the eyrie towers.
Let now the chimneys blaze
And cups o'erflow with wine,
Let well-tuned words amaze
With harmony divine.
Now yellow waxen lights
Shall wait on honey Love
While youthful Revels, Masks, and Courtly sights,
Sleep’s leaden spells remove.

This time doth well dispense
With lovers’ long discourse;
Much speech hath some defence,
Though beauty no remorse.
All do not all things well;
Some measures comely tread;
Some knotted Riddles tell;
Some Poems smoothly read.
The Summer hath his joys,
And Winter his delights;
Though Love and all his pleasures are but toys,
They shorten tedious nights.