Thomas Campion — Now Winter Nights Enlarge

Now winter nights enlarge      The number of their hours; And clouds their storms discharge      Upon the airy towers. Let now the chimneys blaze      And cups o’erflow with wine, Let well-turned words amaze      With harmony divine. Now yellow waxen lights      Shall wait on honey love While youthful revels, masques, and courtly sights      Sleep’s leaden spells remove. This time doth well dispense      With lovers’ long discourse; Much speech hath some defense,      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.