Mary Wroth

Song 2 - All night I weep, all day I cry

All night I weep, all day I cry, Ay me;

I still doe wish though yet deny, Ay me;

I sigh, I mourn, and say that still

I only am the store for ill, Ay me;

 

In coldest hopes I freeze, yet burn, Ay me;

From flames I strive to fly, yet turn, Ay me;

From grief I haste but sorrows hie,

And on my heart all woes do lie, Ay me;

 

From contraries I seek to run, Ay me;

But contraries I cannot shun, Ay me;

For they delight their force to try,

And to despair my thoughts do tie, Ay me;

 

Whither (alas) then shall I go, Ay me;

When as despair all hopes outgo, Ay me;

If to the Forest, Cupid hies,

And my poor soul to his law ties, Ay me;

 

To the Court? O no. He cries fie, Ay me;

there no true love you shall espy, Ay me;

Leave that place to falsest lovers

your true love all truth discovers, Ay me;

 

Then quiet rest, and no more prove, Ay me;

All places are alike to love, Ay me;

And constant be in this begun

Yet say, till life with love be done, Ay me.