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A nocturnall upon S.Lucies Day, |
Beinge the shortest day. |
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Tis the yeares midnight, and it is the dayes, |
Lucies, who scarce seaven houres herself unmaskes, |
The Sunne is spent, and now his flasks |
Send forth light squibs, no constant rayes; |
The worlds whole sap is sunke:* |
The generall balme th'hydroptique earth hath drunk,* |
Whither*, as to the beds-feet life is shrunke, |
Dead and enterr'd; yet all these seeme to laugh, |
Compar'd with mee, who am* their Epitaph. |
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Study me then, you who shall lovers bee |
At the next world, that is, at the next Spring: |
For I am every dead thing, |
In whom love wrought new Alchimie*. |
For his art did expresse |
A quintessence even from nothingnesse, |
From dull privations, and leane emptinesse |
He ruin'd mee, and I am re-begot |
Of absence, darknesse, death; things which are not. |
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All others, from all things, draw all that's good, |
Life, soule, forme, spirit, whence they beeing have, |
I, by loves limbecke, am the grave |
Of all, that's nothing. Oft a flood |
Have wee two wept, and so
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[CW: Drown'd] |