Thomas Morley - Absence, hear thou my protestation - текст песни (слова)

Absence, hear thou my protestation
 Against thy strength,
 Distance and length:
 Do what thou canst for alteration;
 For hearts of truest mettle
 Absence doth join, and time doth settle.
 
 Who loves a mistress of such quality,
 He soon hath found
 Affection's ground
 Beyond time, place, and all mortality.
 To hearts that cannot vary
 Absence is present, time doth tarry.
 
 My senses want their outward motions,
 Which now within
 Reason doth win
 Redoubl'd in her secret notions;
 Like rich men that take pleasure
 In hiding, more than handling, treasure.
 
 By absence this good means I gain,
 That I can catch her
 Where none can watch her,
 In some close corner of my brain.
 There I embrace and kiss her,
 And so I both enjoy and miss her.