John Dowland
THINK’ST THOU THEN BY THY FEIGNING
Think'st thou then by thy feigning
Sleep, with a proud disdaining
Or with thy crafty closing
Thy cruel eyes reposing
To drive me from my sight
When sleep yields more delight
Such harmless beauty gracing
And while sleep feigned is
May not I steal a kiss
Thy quiet arms embracing
O that my sleep dissembled
Were to a trance resembled
Thy cruel eyes deceiving
Of lively sense bereaving:
Then should my love requite
Thy love's unkind despite
While fury triumph'd boldly
In beauty sweet disgrace:
And Liv'd in sweet embrace
Of her that lov'd so coldly
Should then my love aspiring
Forbidden joys desiring
So far exceed the duty
That virtue owes to beauty?
No Love seek no thy bliss
Beyond a simple kiss:
For such deceits are harmless
Yet kiss a thousand-fold
For kisses may be bold
When lovely sleep in armless