Monday, September 2, 2013

A Lute Song by Campion

A 16th cen. poem concerning witches.




          Thrice tosse these Oaken ashes in the ayre, 
          Thrice sit thou mute in this inchanted chayre; 
         Then thrice three times tye up this true loves knot, 
         And murmur soft, shee will, or shee will not. 


          Goe burne these poys'nous weedes in yon blew fire, 
          These Screech-owles fethers, and this prickling bryer, 
          This Cypresse gathered at a dead mans grave: 
          That all thy feares and cares an end may have. 



          Then come, you Fayries, dance with me a round, 
        Melt her hard hart with your melodious sound. 
        In vaine are all the charmes I can devise: 
        She hath an Arte to breake them with her eyes.



Campion, Thomas, 1567-1620:  XVIII.

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