Fair pledges of a fruitful tree, Why do ye fall so fast? Your date is not so past But you may stay [yet here]1 awhile To blush and gently smile, And go at last. What! were ye born to be An hour or half's delight, And so to bid good night? 'Twas pity Nature brought [you]2 forth Merely to show your worth And lose you quite. But you are lovely leaves, where we May read how soon things have Their end, though ne'er so brave: And after they have shown their pride Like you awhile, they glide Into the grave.
Two Songs
Song Cycle by Maude Valérie White (1855 - 1937)
1. To blossoms  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Authorship:
- by Robert Herrick (1591 - 1674), "To blossoms"
See other settings of this text.
View original text (without footnotes)1 Foote: "here yet"
2 Foote, Willan: "ye"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
2. Montrose's love song  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
My dear and only Love, I pray That little world of thee Be govern'd by no other sway Than purest monarchy; For if confusion have a part (Which virtuous souls abhor), And hold a synod in thine heart, I'll never love thee more. Like Alexander I will reign, And I will reign alone; My thoughts did evermore disdain A rival on my throne. He either fears his fate too much, Or his deserts are small, That dares not put it to the touch, To gain or lose it all. And in the empire of thine heart, Where I should solely be, If others do pretend a part Or dare to vie with me, Or if Committees thou erect, And go on such a score, I'll laugh and sing at thy neglect, And never love thee more. But if thou wilt prove faithful then, And constant of thy word, I'll make thee glorious by my pen And famous by my sword; I'll serve thee in such noble ways Was never heard before; I'll crown and deck thee all with bays, And love thee more and more.
Authorship:
- by James Graham, Marquis of Montrose (1612 - 1650), "My dear and only Love"
See other settings of this text.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]Total word count: 285