by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Eyes, look no more
Language: English
Eyes, look no more, For what hath all the earth That's worth the sight? Ears, hear no more, For what can breathe the voice Of true delight? Think Glory, Honour, Joys, Delights, Contents, Are but the empty reports Of unapropried terms That breath invents, Not knowing what it imports. Joys, Delights, and Pleasures In us hold such a doubtful part, As if they were but thrall, And those were all in all. For Griefs, Distrusts, Remorse, I see must domineer the heart. Clothe thee, my heart, With black dark thoughts, And think but of despair. Silence, lock up my words, And scorn these idle sounds of air. But Sorrow, Grief, Affliction and Despair, These are the things that are sure, And these we feel not as conceits in th' air But as the same we endure. Joys, Delights, and Pleasures Make Grief to tyrannize us worse, Our mirth brings but distastes, For nought delights and lasts. Grief, then, take all my heart, For where none strive, there needs less force.
Glossary
unapropried = unsuitable
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by John Danyel (1564 - 1626), "Eyes, look no more" [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 34
Word count: 170