Daily entries from the 17th century London diary
Description
Pepys probably refers to the setting by Nicholas Lanier. The Elizabethan lyrics, from this website are:
Like hermit poor in pensive place obscure,
I mean to spend my days of endless doubt,
To wail such woes as time cannot recure,
Where none but love shall ever find me out;
And at my gates despair shall linger still,
To let in death when love and fortune will.A gown of grey my body shall attire,
My staff of broken hope whereon I’ll stay,
Of late repentance link’d with long despair,
The couch is fram’d whereon my limbs I’ll lay;
And at my gates despair shall linger still,
To let in death when love and fortune will.My food shall be of care and sorrow made,
My drink nought else but tears fall’n from mine eyes,
And for my light in this obscure shade,
The flame may serve, which from my heart arise;
And at my gates despair shall linger still,
To let in death when love and fortune will.
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Annotations
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another version:
Like Hermit Poor
Like to a hermit poor, in place obscure,
[Like hermit poor in pensive place obscure]
I mean to spend my days of endless doubt,
To wail such woes as time cannot recure,
Where none but Love shall ever find me out.My food shall be of care and sorrow made;
My drink nought else but tears fall’n [faln]from mine eyes;
And for my light, in such obscurèd shade,
The flames shall serve which from my heart arise.A gown of grief[gray] my body shall attire;
And broken hope shall be my strength and stay;
[my staffe of broken hope whereon I’ll stay]
And late repentance, linked with long desire,
Shall be the couch whereon my limbs I’ll lay.
[the couch is fram’d whereon my limbs I lay][repeat after each stanza]]
And at my gate Despair shall linger still,
To let in Death when Love and Fortune will.— Sir Walter Raleigh
see Hudibras part i Canto ii 1169