Three Love Songs

Song Cycle by Horatio William Parker (1863 - 1919)

1. Love's chase

Language: English 
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2. Night piece to Julia  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Her eyes the glow-worm lend thee,
The shooting stars attend thee;
    And the elves also,
    Whose little eyes glow
Like the sparks of fire, befriend thee.

No Will-o'th'-Wisp mislight thee;
Nor snake, or slow-worm bite thee:
    But on, on thy way
    Not making a stay,
Since ghost there's none to affright thee.

Let not the dark thee cumber:
What though the moon does slumber?
    The stars of the night
    Will lend thee their light,
Like tapers clear without number.

Then Julia let me woo thee,
Thus, thus to come unto me;
    And when I shall meet
    Thy silv'ry feet,
My soul I'll pour into thee.

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Confirmed with The Hesperides and Noble Numbers, edited by Alfred Pollard, with a preface by A.C. Swinburne, Volume II, London: Lawrence and Bullen; New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1891, pages 17-18.
Research team for this page: Paul Hindemith , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

3. Orsames' song  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Why so pale and wan, fond lover?
  Prithee, why so pale?
Will, when looking well can't move her,
  Looking ill prevail?
  Prithee, why so pale?

Why so dull and mute, young sinner?
  Prithee, why so mute?
Will, when speaking well can't win her,
  Saying nothing [do't]1?
  Prithee, why so mute?

Quit, quit for shame, this will not move,
  This cannot take her;
If of herself she will not love,
  Nothing can make her;
  [The devil take her!]2

Text Authorship:

  • by John Suckling, Sir (1609 - 1642), no title, written 1637, Printed by John Haviland for Thomas Walkley, at the sign of the Flying Horse near York House, London, first published 1638

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

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Confirmed with Works in prose and Verse, by Sir John Suckling, Aglaura, Act IV, Scene 2, G. Routledge, London 1910, Page 115.

1 Stöhr: "do"
2 Britten: "Let who will take her!"

Research team for this page: Ted Perry , Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor] , Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor] , Johann Winkler
Total word count: 184