Burst Forth, My Tears

Burst forth, my tears, assist my forward grief

And show what pain imperious Love provokes

Kind tender lambs, lament Love's scant relief

And pine, since pensive Care my freedom yokes

O pine to see me pine, my tender flocks

Sad, sad pining Care, that never may have peace

At Beauty's gate in hope of pity knocks

But Mercy sleeps while deep Disdain increase

And Beauty Hope in her fair bosom locks

O grieve to hear my grief, my tender flocks

Like, like to the winds my sighs have winged been

Yet are my sighs and suits repaid with mocks

I plead, yet she repineth at my teen

O ruthless rigour harder than the rocks

That both the shepherd kills and his poor flocks