Now winter nights enlarge

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Thomas Campion

The Third Booke of Ayres

1618

XII. Now winter nights enlarge

       1  Now winter nights enlarge
           The number of their houres,
       And clouds their stormes discharge
           Vpon the ayrie towres,
       Let now the chimneys blaze,
           And cups o'erflow with wine :
       Let well-tun'd words amaze
           With harmonie diuine.
       Now yellow waxen lights
           Shall waite on hunny Loue,
       While youthfull Reuels, Masks, and Courtly sights,
           Sleepes leaden spels remoue.

       2  This time doth well dispence
           With louers long discourse ;
       Much speech hath some defence,
           Though beauty no remorse.
       All doe not all things well ;
           Some measures comely tread ;
       Some knotted Ridles tell ;
           Some Poems smoothly read.
       The Summer hath his ioyes,
           And Winter his delights ;
       Though Loue and all his pleasures are but toyes,
           They shorten tedious nights.