by Charles Sedley, Sir (1639 - 1701)
Ah, Chloris! could I now but sit
Language: English
Ah, Chloris! could I now but sit As unconcern'd as when Your infant beauty could beget No happiness or pain! When I the dawn used to admire, And praised the coming day, I little thought the rising fire Would take my rest away. Your charms in harmless childhood lay Like metals in a mine; Age from no face takes more away Than youth conceal'd in thine. But as your charms insensibly To their perfection prest, So love as unperceived did fly, And centr'd in my breast. My passion with your beauty grew, While Cupid at my heart, Still as his mother favour'd you, Threw a new flaming dart: Each gloried in their wanton part; To make a lover, he Employ'd the utmost of his art -- To make a beauty, she.
J. Kinkel sets stanzas 1-2
J. Haydn sets stanzas 1, 3
About the headline (FAQ)
View text with all available footnotesAuthorship:
- by Charles Sedley, Sir (1639 - 1701), "Child and maiden" [author's text checked 1 time 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 (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "Gilderoy", JHW. XXXII/5 no. 403, Hob. XXXIa no. 225, stanzas 1,3, one of the Scottish Songs for William Whyte arranged by Haydn [ sung text checked 1 time]
- by Johanna Kinkel, née Mockel (1810 - 1858), "Gilderoy", Hob. XXXIa (1837/8), stanzas 1-2. [ sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2007-10-04
Line count: 24
Word count: 130