“Let now the chimneys blaze / And cups o’erflow with wine”

January 21, 2014January 21, 2014 / Carolyn O

Here’s a poem to warm up with — Renaissance poet and musician Thomas Campion’s (1567-1620) “Now Winter Nights Enlarge”:

Now Winter Nights Enlarge

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.

I like the physicality of this poem, the concession that the chill and storms of winter require light, and wine, and company to be borne, even if “love and all his pleasures are but toys.”

7 thoughts on ““Let now the chimneys blaze / And cups o’erflow with wine””

Naomi

January 21, 2014 at 8:20 am

Perfect for the coming weather. Maybe you have gotten the storm that is expected here tonight. I just finished bringing in many loads of wood for the fire. I’m ready for a warm fire, a good book, and the kids in bed. 🙂

Reply
- Carolyn O
  
  January 21, 2014 at 11:16 am
  
  We are getting a storm, but nothing to write home about — maybe six or eight inches, it looks like. I love that you have a wood fireplace! We’re not allowed to use our fireplace (we’re renters) — but I guess that’s good because I have a bookshelf in front of it . . . Also, sounds like you deserve to add a glass of wine to that list!
  
  Reply
whatmeread

January 21, 2014 at 10:51 am

Very nice. Although it’s not so cold down here, it makes me feel cozy.

Reply
- Carolyn O
  
  January 21, 2014 at 11:17 am
  
  Thanks! Just imagine us shivering up here. 🙂
  
  Reply
  - whatmeread
    
    January 21, 2014 at 12:12 pm
    
    Yeah, I actually miss the snow. We might get some sleet on Friday morning! You have no idea how exciting I find that! Funny, isn’t it?
Cecilia

January 22, 2014 at 3:14 pm

It’s lovely, and perfect right now. It’s really cold where we are too so I can imagine how much colder it is up north!

Reply
- Carolyn O
  
  January 23, 2014 at 4:53 pm
  
  Honestly, it’s not as bad here as I thought it would be. Cleveland and Chicago have it much worse!
  
  Reply