Author's Abstract of Melancholy, The

<SPAN name="startofbook"></SPAN> <h3>THE AUTHOR'S ABSTRACT OF MELANCHOLY, <span lang="gr">&Delta;&iota;&alpha;&lambda;&omicron;&gamma;&#x1FF6;&sigmaf;</span></h3> <div class="line">When I go musing all alone</div> <div class="line">Thinking of divers things fore-known.</div> <div class="line">When I build castles in the air,</div> <div class="line">Void of sorrow and void of fear,</div> <div class="line">Pleasing myself with phantasms sweet,</div> <div class="line">Methinks the time runs very fleet.</div> <div class="refrain"> <div class="line">All my joys to this are folly,</div> <div class="line">Naught so sweet as melancholy.</div> </div><div class="line">When I lie waking all alone,</div> <div class="line">Recounting what I have ill done,</div> <div class="line">My thoughts on me then tyrannise,</div> <div class="line">Fear and sorrow me surprise,</div> <div class="line">Whether I tarry still or go,</div> <div class="line">Methinks the time moves very slow.</div> <div class="refrain"> <div class="line">All my griefs to this are jolly,</div> <div class="line">Naught so mad as melancholy.</div> </div><div class="line">When to myself I act and smile,</div> <div class="line">With pleasing thoughts the time beguile,</div> <div class="line">By a brook side or wood so green,</div> <div class="line">Unheard, unsought for, or unseen,</div> <div class="line">A thousand pleasures do me bless,</div> <div class="line">And crown my soul with happiness.</div> <div class="refrain"> <div class="line">All my joys besides are folly,</div> <div class="line">None so sweet as melancholy.</div> </div><div class="line">When I lie, sit, or walk alone,</div> <div class="line">I sigh, I grieve, making great moan,</div> <div class="line">In a dark grove, or irksome den,</div> <div class="line">With discontents and Furies then,</div> <div class="line">A thousand miseries at once</div> <div class="line">Mine heavy heart and soul ensconce,</div> <div class="refrain"> <div class="line">All my griefs to this are jolly,</div> <div class="line">None so sour as melancholy.</div> </div><div class="line">Methinks I hear, methinks I see,</div> <div class="line">Sweet music, wondrous melody,</div> <div class="line">Towns, palaces, and cities fine;</div> <div class="line">Here now, then there; the world is mine,</div> <div class="line">Rare beauties, gallant ladies shine,</div> <div class="line">Whate'er is lovely or divine.</div> <div class="refrain"> <div class="line">All other joys to this are folly,</div> <div class="line">None so sweet as melancholy.</div> </div><div class="line">Methinks I hear, methinks I see</div> <div class="line">Ghosts, goblins, fiends; my phantasy</div> <div class="line">Presents a thousand ugly shapes,</div> <div class="line">Headless bears, black men, and apes,</div> <div class="line">Doleful outcries, and fearful sights,</div> <div class="line">My sad and dismal soul affrights.</div> <div class="refrain"> <div class="line">All my griefs to this are jolly,</div> <div class="line">None so damn'd as melancholy.</div> </div><div class="line">Methinks I court, methinks I kiss,</div> <div class="line">Methinks I now embrace my mistress.</div> <div class="line">O blessed days, O sweet content,</div> <div class="line">In Paradise my time is spent.</div> <div class="line">Such thoughts may still my fancy move,</div> <div class="line">So may I ever be in love.</div> <div class="refrain"> <div class="line">All my joys to this are folly,</div> <div class="line">Naught so sweet as melancholy.</div> </div><div class="line">When I recount love's many frights,</div> <div class="line">My sighs and tears, my waking nights,</div> <div class="line">My jealous fits; O mine hard fate</div> <div class="line">I now repent, but 'tis too late.</div> <div class="line">No torment is so bad as love,</div> <div class="line">So bitter to my soul can prove.</div> <div class="refrain"> <div class="line">All my griefs to this are jolly,</div> <div class="line">Naught so harsh as melancholy.</div> </div><div class="line">Friends and companions get you gone,</div> <div class="line">'Tis my desire to be alone;</div> <div class="line">Ne'er well but when my thoughts and I</div> <div class="line">Do domineer in privacy.</div> <div class="line">No Gem, no treasure like to this,</div> <div class="line">'Tis my delight, my crown, my bliss.</div> <div class="refrain"> <div class="line">All my joys to this are folly,</div> <div class="line">Naught so sweet as melancholy.</div> </div><div class="line">'Tis my sole plague to be alone,</div> <div class="line">I am a beast, a monster grown,</div> <div class="line">I will no light nor company,</div> <div class="line">I find it now my misery.</div> <div class="line">The scene is turn'd, my joys are gone,</div> <div class="line">Fear, discontent, and sorrows come.</div> <div class="refrain"> <div class="line">All my griefs to this are jolly,</div> <div class="line">Naught so fierce as melancholy.</div> </div><div class="line">I'll not change life with any king,</div> <div class="line">I ravisht am: can the world bring</div> <div class="line">More joy, than still to laugh and smile,</div> <div class="line">In pleasant toys time to beguile?</div> <div class="line">Do not, O do not trouble me,</div> <div class="line">So sweet content I feel and see.</div> <div class="refrain"> <div class="line">All my joys to this are folly,</div> <div class="line">None so divine as melancholy.</div> </div><div class="line">I'll change my state with any wretch,</div> <div class="line">Thou canst from gaol or dunghill fetch;</div> <div class="line">My pain's past cure, another hell,</div> <div class="line">I may not in this torment dwell!</div> <div class="line">Now desperate I hate my life,</div> <div class="line">Lend me a halter or a knife;</div> <div class="refrain"> <div class="line">All my griefs to this are jolly,</div> <div class="line">Naught so damn'd as melancholy.</div> </div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />