John Dowland




Come, heavy Sleep

Come heavy Sleep the image of true Death;
   And close up these my weary weeping eyes:
Whose spring of tears doth stop my vital breath,
   And tears my hart with Sorrow’s sigh-swoll’n cries:
Come and possess my tired thoughts, worn soul,
That living dies, till thou on me be stole.

Come, shadow of my end, and shape of rest,
   Allied to Death, child to his black-faced Night:
Come thou and charm these rebels in my breast,
   Whose waking fancies do my mind affright.
O come, sweet Sleep, come or I die for ever:
Come ere my last sleep comes, or come never.