The Poetical Works of William Drummond of Hawthornden ::

The Heauen doth not containe so many Starres,
So many Leaues not prostrate lie in Woods,
When Autumne's old, and Boreas sounds his Warres,
So many Waues haue not the Ocean Floods,
As my rent Mind hath Torments all the Night,
And Heart spends Sighes, when Phebvs brings the Light.

Why should I beene a Partner of the Light?
Who crost in Birth by bad Aspects of Starres,
Haue neuer since had happie Day nor Night,
Why was not I a Liuer in the Woods,
Or Citizen of Thetis Christall Floods,
Than made a Man, for Loue and Fortunes Warres?

I looke each Day when Death should ende the Warres,
Vnciuill Warres, twixt Sense and Reasons Light,
My Paines I count to Mountaines, Meads, and Floods,
And of my Sorrow Partners makes the Starres,
All desolate I haunt the fearfull Woods
When I should giue my selfe to Rest at Night.

With watchfull Eyes I ne're beholde the Night,
Mother of Peace, but ah to me of Warres,
And Cynthia Queene-like shining through the Woods,
When straight those Lamps come in my Thought, whose Light
My Iudgement dazel'd, passing brightest Starres,
And then mine Eyes en-isle themselues with Floods.

Turne to their Springs againe first shall the Floods,
Cleare shall the Sunne the sad and gloomie Night,
To dance about the Pole cease shall the Starres,
The Elements renew their ancient Warres

Shall first, and bee depriu'd of Place and Light,
Ere I finde Rest in Citie, Fields, or Woods.

Ende these my Dayes Endwellers of the Woods,
Take this my Life yee deepe and raging Floods,
Sunne neuer rise to cleare mee with thy Light,
Horror and Darknesse keepe a lasting Night,
Consume me Care with thy intestine Warres,
And stay your Influence o're me bright Starres.

In vaine the Starres, Endwellers of the Woods,
Care, Horror, Warres I call and raging Floods,
For all haue sworne no Night shall dimme my Sight.

University of Virginia Library

Sextain. [i]

[The Heauen doth not containe so many Starres]