Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THIRD BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 13, by THOMAS CAMPION



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THIRD BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 13, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Awake, thou spring of speaking grace, mute rest becomes
Last Line: Do it not in slumber smother!
Subject(s): Language


AWAKE, thou spring of speaking grace! mute rest becomes not thee!
The fairest women, while they sleep, and pictures, equal be.
O come and dwell in love's discourses!
Old renewing, new creating.
The words which thy rich tongue discourses
Are not of the common rating!

Thy voice is as an Echo clear which Music doth beget,
Thy speech is as an Oracle which none can counterfeit:
For thou alone, without offending,
Hast obtained power of enchanting;
And I could hear thee without ending,
Other comfort never wanting.

Some little reason brutish lives with human glory share;
But language is our proper grace, from which they severed are.
As brutes in reason man surpasses,
Men in speech excel each other:
If speech be then the best of graces,
Do it not in slumber smother!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...



Home: PoetryExplorer.net