by Elizabeth I of England (1533 - 1603)
When I was fair and young, and favour...
Language: English
When I was fair and young, and favour graced me, Of many was I sought, their mistress for to be. But I did scorn them all, and [said to]1 them therefore: "Go, go, go, seek some otherwhere, importune me no more." How many weeping eyes I made to pine in woe; How many sighing hearts I have not skill to show, But I the prouder grew, and still this spake therefore: "Go, go, go, seek some otherwhere, importune me no more." Then spake fair Venus' son, that proud, victorious boy, [Saying: You dainty dame, for]2 that you be so coy, I will so pluck your [plumes as]3 you shall say no more: "Go, go, go, seek some otherwhere, importune me no more." [As soon as he had said]4, such change grew in my breast That neither night [nor day I could take]5 any rest, [Wherefore I]6 did repent that I had said before: "Go, go, go, seek some otherwhere, importune me no more."
H. Gál sets stanzas 1, 3-4
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Gál: "answered"
2 Gál: "And said: Fine dame, since"
3 Gál: "plumes, that"
4 Gál: "When he had spake these words"
5 Gál: "or day since that I could find"
6 Gál: "Then lo! I"
Authorship:
- by Elizabeth I of England (1533 - 1603), "When I was young and fair", first published 1580-9 [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 Hans Gál (1890 - 1987), "Youth and Cupid", op. 51 no. 1 (1939), published 1949, stanzas 1,3-4 [SATB chorus a cappella], from Four Madrigals, no. 1, Novello, London [ sung text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-02-11
Line count: 16
Word count: 163