by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Wedded to will is witless
Language: English
Wedded to will is witless, And seldom he is skilful That bears the name of wise and yet is wilful. To govern he is fitless That deals not by election, But by his fond affection. O that it might be treason For men to rule by will and not by reason.
Lyrics from the Song-Books of the Elizabethan Age, ed. by A. H. Bullen, London, John C. Nimmo, 1887, pages 147-148.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by William Byrd (1542?3? - 1623), "Wedded to will is witless", published 1611, from the collection Psalms, Songs, and Sonnets [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2014-02-24
Line count: 8
Word count: 51