The silver swan, who living had no note,
When death approached unlocked her silent throat;
Leaning her breast against the reedy shore,
Thus sung her first and last, and sung no more:
Farewell, all joys; O death, come close mine eyes;
More geese than swans now live, more fools than wise.

Quotation #46654

About This Quote

From Orlando Gibbons, The First Set of Madrigals and Motets of Five Parts [1612], I