Sweet is the Rose, but growes upon a brere;
Sweet is the Junipere, but sharpe his bough;
sweet is the Eglantine, but pricketh nere;
sweet is the firbloome, but his braunches rough.
Sweet is the Cypresse, but his rynd is tough,
sweet is the nut, but bitter is his pill;
sweet is the broome-flowre, but yet sowre enough;
and sweet is Moly, but his root is ill.
So every sweet with soure is tempred still,
that maketh it be coveted the more:
for easie things that may be got at will,
most sorts of men doe set but little store.
Why then should I accoumpt of little paine
that endlesse pleasure shall unto me gaine.
Other Edmund Spenser songs:
all Edmund Spenser songs all songs from 1595