Top 7 John Dowland Quotes

My favourite musician happens to be the same as Shakespeare's: John Dowland. His songs are sorrowful but heal the soul by their sweetness and courage.

He was the rarest musician that his age did behold; having travelled beyond the seas, and compounded English with foreign skill in that faculty.

Semper Dowland semper dolens.

Hark you shadows that in darkness dwell,
Learn to contemn light,
Happy, happy they that in hell
Feel not the world's despite.

Flow my tears, fall from your springs,
Exil'd for ever: let me mourn
Where night's black bird her sad infamy sings,
There let me live forlorn.

Come again: sweet love doth now invite,
Thy graces that refrain,
To do me due delight,
To see, to hear, to touch, to kiss, to die,
With thee again in sweetest sympathy.

True love cannot be changed,
Though delight from desert
Be estranged.
Farewell, farewell
But yet or ere I part (O cruel),
Kiss me sweet, kiss me sweet my jewel.