169. Laura

Thomas Campion. 1567?-1619


ROSE-CHEEK'D Laura, come;
Sing thou smoothly with thy beauty's
Silent music, either other
      Sweetly gracing.

  Lovely forms do flow
From concent divinely framed:
Heaven is music, and thy beauty's
      Birth is heavenly.

  These dull notes we sing
Discords need for helps to grace them;
Only beauty purely loving
      Knows no discord;

  But still moves delight,
Like clear springs renew'd by flowing,
Ever perfect, ever in them-
      selves eternal.

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