Rest awhile, you cruel cares

Rest awhile, you cruel cares,

Be not more severe than love.

Beauty kills and beauty spares,

And sweet smiles sad sighs remove.

Laura, fair queen of my delight,

Come grant me love in love's despite,

And if I ever fail to honour thee,

Let this heav'nly light I see

Be as dark as hell to me.

If I speak, my words want weight,

Am I mute, my heart doth break,

If I sigh, she fears deceit,

Sorrow then for me must speak.

Cruel unkind, with favour view

The wound that first was made by you,

And if my torments feigned be,

Let this heav'nly light I see

Be as dark as hell to me.

Never hour of pleasing rest

Shall revive my dying ghost,

Till my soul hath repossessed

The sweet hope which love hath lost.

Laura, redeem the soul that dies

By fury of thy murd'ring eyes,

And if it proves unkind to thee,

Let this heav'nly light I see

Be as dark as hell to me.