Slow, slow, fresh fount

See, see, the mourning fount, whose springs weep yet

Th' untimely fate of that too beauteous boy,

That trophy of self-love, and spoil of nature,

Who, now transform'd into this drooping flower,

Hangs the repentant head, back from the stream,

As if it wish'd, "Would I had never look'd

In such a flattering mirror!" O Narcissus,

Thou that wast once, and yet art, my Narcissus,

Had Echo but been private with thy thoughts,

She would have dropt away herself in tears,

Till she had all turn'd water; that in her,

As in a truer glass, thou might'st have gazed

And seen thy beauties by more kind reflection,

But self-love never yet could look on truth

But with blear'd beams.

Why did the gods give thee a heavenly form,

And earthly thoughts to make thee proud of it?

Slow, slow, fresh fount, keep time with my salt tears;

Yet, slower, yet; O faintly, gentle springs:

Woe weeps out her division, when she sings.

Droop herbs, and flowers,

Fall grief in showers,

Our beauties are not ours:

O, I could still,

Like melting snow upon some craggy hill,

Drop, drop, drop, drop,

Since nature's pride is, now, a withered daffodil.