1Oh that the tears that trickle from mine eyes

2Were placed as

blazing comets in the skies2

;

3Then would their numerous and

illustrous3

rays

4Turn my sad nights into the brightest days.

5Oh that the sighs that breath from my sad soul

6Might fly

above the highest star or pole4

7Unto that God that views my

dismal story5

,

8Even He that crowns my dying hopes with glory.

9Oh that my tears that fall down to the earth

10Might give some noble

unknown flower birth6

;

11Then would

Hadassah’s7

more resplendent fame

12Outlive the

famous Artemisia’s8

name.

13

The iris trickles tears9

from her sad eyes,

14And from their salt her offspring doth arise;

15But my abortive tears descend in vain,

16

For I can never see those joys again10

.

17

Hart’s briny tears a bezoar doth condense11

,

18Oh let mine eyes whole flood of tears dispense

19That I a cordial to my friends may give;

20Then though I die, yet I may make them live.

21I gladly would this good to them impart,

22Though in the doing it, it breaks my heart;

23Then let my dying tears a

cordial12

prove,

24Seeing I my friends above my life do love.