Oft in the tranquil hour of night,
When stars illume the sky,
I gaze upon each orb read more

Oft in the tranquil hour of night,
When stars illume the sky,
I gaze upon each orb of light,
And wish that thou wert by.

Wives in their husbands' absences grow subtler,
And daughters sometimes run off with the butler.

Wives in their husbands' absences grow subtler,
And daughters sometimes run off with the butler.

How like a winter hath my absence been
From thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year!
What read more

How like a winter hath my absence been
From thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year!
What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen!
What old December's bareness everywhere!

Absence from whom we love is worse than death.

Absence from whom we love is worse than death.

Absence diminishes little passions and increases great ones, as wind extinguishes candles and fans a fire.

Absence diminishes little passions and increases great ones, as wind extinguishes candles and fans a fire.

For I verily, absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged
already, as though I were present, concerning read more

For I verily, absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged
already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so
done this deed, . . .

In the hope to meet
Shortly again, and make our absence sweet.

In the hope to meet
Shortly again, and make our absence sweet.

Thou art gone from my gaze like a beautiful dream.
And I seek then in vain by the meadow read more

Thou art gone from my gaze like a beautiful dream.
And I seek then in vain by the meadow and stream.

But when he (man) shall have been taken from sight, he quickly
goes also out of mind.
[Lat., read more

But when he (man) shall have been taken from sight, he quickly
goes also out of mind.
[Lat., Cum autem sublatus fuerit ab oculis, etiam cito transit a
mente.]