Shall I come, sweet love, to thee
When the evening beams are set?
Shall I not excluded be?
Will you find no feigned let?
Let me not for pity more
Tell the long hours at your door.
Who can tell what thief or foe
In the covert of the night
For his prey will work my woe,
Or through wicked foul despight?
So may I die unredressed,
Ere my long love be possessed.
But to let such dangers pass,
Which a lover's thoughts disdain:
'Tis enough in such a place
To attend love's joys in vain.
Do not mock me in thy bed
While these cold nights freeze me dead.
