Anonymous

Here you will find the Poem Icarus, Robert Jones's Second Book of Songs and Airs of poet Anonymous

Icarus, Robert Jones's Second Book of Songs and Airs

LOVE wing'd my Hopes and taught me how to fly 
Far from base earth, but not to mount too high: 
   For true pleasure 
   Lives in measure, 
   Which if men forsake, 
Blinded they into folly run and grief for pleasure take. 

But my vain Hopes, proud of their new-taught flight, 
Enamour'd sought to woo the sun's fair light, 
   Whose rich brightness 
   Moved their lightness 
   To aspire so high 
That all scorch'd and consumed with fire now drown'd in woe they lie. 

And none but Love their woeful hap did rue, 
For Love did know that their desires were true; 
   Though fate frowned, 
   And now drowned 
   They in sorrow dwell, 
It was the purest light of heav'n for whose fair love they fell.