Pericles
To sing a song that old was sung
From ashes ancient Gower is come
Assuming man's infirmities
To glad your ear, and please your eyes
And that to hear an old man sing
May to your wishes pleasure bring
I life would wish, and that I might
Waste it for you, like taper-light
The purchase is to make men glorious;
This king unto him took a fere
Who died and left a female heir
So buxom, blithe, and full of face
As heaven had lent her all his grace
The beauty of this sinful dame
Made many princes thither frame
To seek her as a bed-fellow
In marriage-pleasures play-fellow
The purchase is to make men glorious;
Which to prevent he made a law
To keep her still, and men in awe
That whoso ask'd her for his wife
His riddle told not, lost his life
It hath been sung at festivals
On ember-eves and holy-ales
And lords and ladies in their lives
Have read it for restoratives
The purchase is to make men glorious;
Lyrics by William Shakespeare
From
Pericles