Welcome, sweet Death! Go, nightly cares, the enemy to rest, Forbear awhile to vex my grieved sprite; So long your weight hath lain upon my breast That, lo! I live of life bereaved quite: O give me time to draw my wearied breath, Or let me die as I desire the death. Welcome, sweet Death! O life, no life, a hell! Then thus and thus I bid the world farewell. False world, farewell, the enemy to rest, Now do thy worst, I do not weigh thy spite; Free from thy cares I live for ever blest, Enjoying peace and heavenly true delight: Delight, whom woes nor sorrows shall amate, Nor fears or tears disturb her happy state: And thus I leave thy hopes, thy joys untrue, And thus, and thus, vain world, again adieu!
Welcome, sweet Death! Go, nightly cares, the enemy to rest, Forbear awhile to vex my grieved sprite; So long your weight hath lain upon my breast That, lo! I live of life bereaved quite: O give me time to draw my wearied breath, Or let me die as I desire the death. Welcome, sweet Death! O life, no life, a hell! Then thus and thus I bid the world farewell. False world, farewell, the enemy to rest, Now do thy worst, I do not weigh thy spite; Free from thy cares I live for ever blest, Enjoying peace and heavenly true delight: Delight, whom woes nor sorrows shall amate, Nor fears or tears disturb her happy state: And thus I leave thy hopes, thy joys untrue, And thus, and thus, vain world, again adieu!