Two Bookes of Ayres:
The First Booke
XVII.
by Thomas Campion.

Come, chearfull day, part of my life, to mee :
For while thou view'st me with thy fading light,
Part of my life doth still depart with thee,
And I still onward haste to my last night.
   Times fatall wings doe euer forward flye,
   Soe eu'ry day we liue a day wee dye.

But, O yee nights, ordain'd for barren rest,
How are my dayes depriu'd of life in you,
When heauy sleepe my soule hath dispossest,
By fayned death life sweetly to renew !                         10
   Part of my life in that, you life denye :
   So eu'ry day we liue a day wee dye.



Source:
Campion, Thomas. Campion's Works. Percival Vivian, Ed.
Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1909. 125.

Music:
"Come, Cheerful Day" by Campion, Thomas.
Sequenced by Harald Lillmeyer. Used with permission.



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Created by Anniina Jokinen on April 23, 2000.  Last updated November 10, 2008.
A recording of this song is 
available in the collections:

 album cover
Time Stands Still

album cover
Campion: English Ayres