Shorten.

Chagall, Bouquet by the Window, 1960

Now winter nights enlarge 

The number of their hours; 

And clouds their storms discharge 

Upon the airy towers. 

Let now the chimneys blaze 

And cups o’erflow with wine, 

Let well-turned words amaze 

With harmony divine. 

Now yellow waxen lights 

Shall wait on honey love 

While youthful revels, masques, and courtly sights 

Sleep’s leaden spells remove. 

This time doth well dispense 

With lovers’ long discourse; 

Much speech hath some defense, 

Though beauty no remorse. 

All do not all things well; 

Some measures comely tread, 

Some knotted riddles tell, 

Some poems smoothly read. 

The summer hath his joys, 

And winter his delights; 

Though love and all his pleasures are but toys, 

They shorten tedious nights.

Thomas Campion