Now winter nights enlarge 	

This number of their hours; 

And clouds their storms discharge 	

Upon the airy towers. 

Let now the chimneys blaze 	

And cups o'erflow with wine, 

Let well-tuned words amaze 	

With harmony divine. 

Now yellow waxen lights 	

Shall wait on honey love 

While youthful revels, masques, and courtly sights 	

Sleep's leaden spells remove. 

This time doth well dispense 	

With lovers' long discourse; 

Much speech hath some defense, 	

Though beauty no remorse. 

All do not all things well: 	

Some measures comely tread, 

Some knotted riddles tell, 	

Some poems smoothly read. 

The summer hath his joys, 	

And winter his delights; 

Though love and all his pleasures are but toys 	

They shorten tedious nights.