John Dowland - It was a time when silly bees could speake - текст песни (слова)

It was a time when silly bees could speak,
 And in that time I was a silly bee,
 Who fed on time until my heart 'gan break,
 Yet never found the time would favour me.
 Of all the swarm I only did not thrive,
 Yet brought I wax and honey to the hive.
 
 Then thus I buzzed when time no sap would give:
 Why should this blessed time to me be dry,
 Sith by this time the lazy drone doth live,
 The wasp, the worm, the gnat, the butterfly?
 Mated with grief I kneeled on my knees,
 And thus complained unto the king of bees:
 
 My liege, gods grant thy time may never end,
 And yet vouchsafe to hear my plaint of time,
 Which fruitless flies have found to have a friend,
 And I cast down when atomies do climb.
 The king replied but thus: Peace, peevish bee,
 Thou'rt bound to serve the time, the time not thee.