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.

They are good that are away.

They are good that are away.

Absences are a good influence in love and keep it bright and delicate.

Absences are a good influence in love and keep it bright and delicate.

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

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

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!

It takes time for the absent to assume their true shape in our thoughts. After death they take on a read more

It takes time for the absent to assume their true shape in our thoughts. After death they take on a firmer outline and then cease to change.

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.

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, . . .

Is not absence death to those who love?

Is not absence death to those who love?