JOHN FLETCHER 1579–1625
Reading edition
INVOCATION TO SLEEP, FROM VALENTINIAN
Care-charming Sleep, thou easer of all woes, Brother to Death, sweetly thyself dispose On this afflicted prince; fall like a cloud In gentle showers; give nothing that is loud Or painful to his slumbers;—easy, sweet, And as a purling stream, thou son of Night, Pass by his troubled senses; sing his pain Like hollow murmuring wind or silver rain; Into this prince gently, oh, gently slide And kiss him into slumbers like a bride!
TO BACCHUS
God Lyæus, ever young, Ever honoured, ever sung; Stained with blood of lusty grapes In a thousand lusty shapes; Dance upon the mazer’s brim, In the crimson liquor swim; From thy plenteous hand divine, Let a river run with wine: God of Youth, let this day here Enter neither care nor fear.