1Why art thou sad at the approach of night,
2My melancholy soul?
3Should not obscurity and cheerful light
4After each other roll?
5For as sad, gloomy shades doth follow light,
6So after life we die;
7But Death at last is conquered
quite, 8O happy victory!
9There’s nothing like day’s dissolution
10Within my mind so rife
; 11Methinks it’s like the revolution
12Of life and death and life.
13Come, cruel Lachesis and Clotho
both, 14Come, show your outmost spite;
15Methinks you twirl and twist, as loath
16To come and do me right.
17For seeing the voice of Nature doth rehearse
18That revolution
19Is the preserving of the universe
21What need I care, then, when I do expire,
22Although I turn to dust
, 23Seeing total Nature still is kept entire,
24In all her actions just?
25Then let Erinys and her cursed train
26Scare those that fear their might;
27Their blazing brands and vipers vain
28Shall me no more affright.
29For I as gladly in my quiet grave
30Will lay me down to rest
31As in the finest downy bed I have;
32In causes
all sleep best.