Welcome is the word The best love can afford; For what can better be. Welcome, Lords, the time draws near, When each one shall embrace his dear, And view the face he longs to see. Absence makes the hour more sweet, When divided lovers meet Welcome once again, Though too much were in vain: Yet how can love exceed? Princely guests, we wish there were Nectar and Ambrosia here, That you might like immortals feed, Changing shapes like full-fed Jove In the sweet pursuit of love. O stay, sweet is the least delay, When parting forceth mourning; O joy too soon thy flowers decay, From rose to briar returning. Bright beams that now shine here, when you are parted All will be dim, all will be dumb, and every breast sad-hearted. Yet more, for true love may presume, If it exceed not measure. O grief that blest hours soon consume, But joyless pass at leisure. Since we this lose, our love expressing Far may it shine, long may it live, to all a public blessing. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AN APPEAL TO CATS IN THE BUSINESS OF LOVE; SONG by THOMAS FLATMAN THE ALLEY. AN IMITATION OF SPENSER by ALEXANDER POPE SONNET: 67 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE THE MORAL FABLES: THE FOX AND THE WOLF by AESOP REVERIE IN A CLASSROOM by DOROTHY LAUD BROWN HOME, SWEET HOME WITH VARIATIONS: 2. ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE by HENRY CUYLER BUNNER |