He who ordained

He who ordained, when first the world began,

Time, that was not before creation's hour,

Divided it, and gave the sun's high power

To rule the one, the moon the other:

Thence fate and changeful chance and fortune's ban

Did in one moment down on mortals show'r

Dividing them, and took the sun's high power

And left the moon darkened alone:

To me they portioned darkness for a dower;

Dark hath my lot been since I was a man.

Myself am ever mine own counterfeit;

And as the night grows still more dim and dun,

So still more misdoing must I rue:

Meanwhile this solace to my soul is sweet,

That my black night doth make more clear the sun

Which at your birth was given to wait on you.