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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  287. A Hymn

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

James Shirley. 1596–1666

287. A Hymn

O FLY, my Soul! What hangs upon 
        Thy drooping wings, 
        And weighs them down 
With love of gaudy mortal things? 
 
The Sun is now i’ the east: each shade         5
        As he doth rise 
        Is shorter made, 
That earth may lessen to our eyes. 
 
O be not careless then and play 
        Until the Star of Peace  10
Hide all his beams in dark recess! 
Poor pilgrims needs must lose their way, 
When all the shadows do increase.