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...THE CRAFTSMAN by MARCUS B. CHRISTIAN SONG: 4 by EDWARD ESTLIN CUMMINGS JOSEPH'S COAT by GEORGE HERBERT WRITTEN [OR LINES] IN A YOUNG LADY'S ALBUM by THOMAS HOOD WRITTEN IN THE BEGINNING OF MEZERAY'S HISTORY OF FRANCE by MATTHEW PRIOR A LEGEND OF BREGENZ by ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER GATHERING SONG OF DONALD [OR, DONUI DHU] THE BLACK by WALTER SCOTT |