Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. I. Early Poetry: Chaucer to Donne

Elizabethan Miscellanies

From Davison’s Poetical Rapsody: Of Corinna’s Singing (T. Campion)

WHEN to her lute Corinna sings,

Her voice revives the leaden strings,

And doth in highest notes appear

As any challenged echo clear.

But when she doth of mourning speak,

E’en with her sighs the strings do break.

And as her lute doth live and die,

Led by her passions, so must I:

For when of pleasure she doth sing,

My thoughts enjoy a sudden spring;

But if she do of sorrow speak,

E’en from my heart the strings do break.