Classic Poem

My dayes delight, my spring tyme joyes foredun
Which in the dawne and rysing Sunne of youth
Had their creation and were first begun

Doe in the Evening, and the Winter sad
Present my Mynde (which takes my tymes account)
The griefe remayning of the joye it had

For as noe fortune stands, so no Mans Love
Stayes by the wretched and disconsolate
All old affections from new sorrowes Move

Mosse to unburied bones, Ivie to walles
Whom Life and people have abandond,
Till th'one be rotten, stayes till th'other falles

But friendships, kindred, and Loves Memorie
Dies sole, extinguish hearing or behoulding
The voyce of woe, or face of Miserie

Who being in all like those Winter Showers
Doe come uncald, but then forebear to fall
When parching heate hath burnt both Leaves and flowers

And what we some tyme were we seeme noe More
Fortune hath changd our Shapes, and Destinie
Defac'd our very forme we had before

For did in Cinders any heate remayne
Of those cleare fyres of Love and friendlines
I could not call for right and call in vaine

Or had Truth power the guiltles could not fall
Malice, vaine-glorie, and revenge tryumph
But Truth alone cannot encounter all

All Love, and all desert of former tymes
Malice hath covered from my Soveraignes Eyes
And largely laide abroade supposed Crymes

Burying the former with their Memorie
Teaching offence to speake before it goe
Disguising private hate with publique dutie

But Mercie is fled to God that Mercie Made
Compassion dead, fayth turn'd to policie
Which knowes not those which sit in sorrowes shade

Cold walles to you I speake, but you are senclesse
Celestiall poweres you heard but have determined
And shall determyne to the greatest happinesse

To whom then shall I crie to whom shall wronge
Cast downe her teares, or hould up foulded handes
To her to whom remorse doth most belonge

To her that is the first and may alone
Be called Impresse of the Brittaines
Who should have Mercie if a Queene have none

Who should resist stronge hate, fierce Injurie
Or who releive th'oppressed State of Truth
Who is Companion els to powerfull Majestie

But you great, godliest, powerfull Princesse
Who have brought glorie and posteritie
Unto this widdowe Land and People hopeless.