Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume II. Love. 1904. | | | | II. Love’s Nature | | “Welcome, welcome, do I sing” | | William Browne (c. 1590–c. 1645) |
| | | Welcome, welcome, do I sing, | |
| Far more welcome than the spring; | |
| He that parteth from you never | |
| Shall enjoy a spring forever. | |
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| Love, that to the voice is near, | 5 |
| Breaking from your ivory pale, | |
| Need not walk abroad to hear | |
| The delightful nightingale. | |
| Welcome, welcome, then I sing, etc. | |
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| Love, that still looks on your eyes | 10 |
| Though the winter have begun | |
| To benumb our arteries, | |
| Shall not want the summer’s sun. | |
| Welcome, welcome, then I sing, etc. | |
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| Love, that still may see your cheeks, | 15 |
| Where all rareness still reposes, | |
| Is a fool if e’er he seeks | |
| Other lilies, other roses. | |
| Welcome, welcome, then I sing, etc. | |
| |
| Love, to whom your soft lip yields, | 20 |
| And perceives your breath in kissing, | |
| All the odors of the fields | |
| Never, never shall be missing. | | | | |
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