Poem 20

Vt let stil Silence trew night watches keepe,

That sacred peace may in assurance rayne,

And tymely sleep, when it is tyme to sleepe,

May poure his limbs forth on your pleasant playne,

The whiles an hundred little winged loues,

Like diuers fethered doues,

Shall fly and flutter round about your bed,

And in the secret darke, that none reproues,

Their prety stealthes shal worke, & snares shal

To filch away sweet snatches of delight,

Conceald through couert night.

Ye sonnes of Venus, play your sports at will,

For greedy pleasure, carelesse of your toyes,

Thinks more vpon her paradise of ioyes,

Then what ye do, albe it good or ill.

All night therefore attend your merry play,

For it will soone be day:

Now none doth hinder you, that say or sing,

Ne will the woods now answer, nor your Eccho ring.