Welcome, sweet Death!
Go, nightly cares, the enemy to rest,
Forbear awhile to vex my grieved sprite;
So long your weight hath lain upon my breast
That, lo! I live of life bereaved quite:
O give me time to draw my wearied breath,
Or let me die as I desire the death.
Welcome, sweet Death! O life, no life, a hell!
Then thus and thus I bid the world farewell.
False world, farewell, the enemy to rest,
Now do thy worst, I do not weigh thy spite;
Free from thy cares I live for ever blest,
Enjoying peace and heavenly true delight:
Delight, whom woes nor sorrows shall amate,
Nor fears or tears disturb her happy state:
And thus I leave thy hopes, thy joys untrue,
And thus, and thus, vain world, again adieu!