John Dowland Rest Awhile You Cruel Cares Lyrics

Rest Awhile You Cruel Cares Lyrics

Rest awhile, you cruel cares 

 Be not more severe than love. 

 Beauty kills and beauty spares, 

 And sweet smiles sad sighs remove: 

 Laura, fair queen of my delight, 

 Come grant me love in love's despite, 

 And if I fail ever to honour thee, 

 Let this heavenly light I see, 

 Be as dark as hell to me. 

  

 If I speak, my words want weight, 

 Am I mute, my heart doth break, 

 If I sigh, she fears deceit, 

 Sorrow then for me must speak: 

 Cruel unkind, with favour view 

 The wound that first was made by you: 

 And if my torments feigned be, 

 Let this heavenly light I see, 

 Be as dark as hell to me. 

  

 Never hour of pleasing rest 

 Shall revive my dying gost, 

 Till my soul hath repossess'd 

 The sweet hope which love hath lost: 

 Laura redeem the soul that dies, 

 By fury of thy murdering eyes: 

 And if it prove unkind to thee, 

 Let this heavenly light I see, 

 Be as dark as hell to me