Still to be neat, still to be drest, As you were going to a feast; Still to be powder'd, still perfum'd: Lady, Lady, it is to be presum'd: Though art's hid causes are not found, All is not sweet, all is not sound. Give me a look, give me a face, That makes simplicity a grace; Robes loosely flowing, hair is free; Such sweet neglect more taketh me Than all th'adulteries of art; They strike mine eyes, but not my heart.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Ben Jonson (1572 - 1637) [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 Ernst Alexander 'Sas' Bunge (1924 - 1980), "Still to be neat", published 1966, from Three poems of Ben Jonson, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Geoffrey Bush (1920 - 1998), "A Rebuke", 1952 [ baritone and piano ], from Three Songs of Ben Jonson, no. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Edward Elgar, Sir (1857 - 1934), "Still to be neat", note: from the unfinished opera The Spanish Lady. [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Ivor (Bertie) Gurney (1890 - 1937), "Song from Epicene", 1921 [ voice and piano ], revised 1925 [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- GER German (Deutsch) (Richard Flatter) , "Süße Saumsal", appears in Die Fähre, Englische Lyrik aus fünf Jahrhunderten, first published 1936
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 81
Bebändert, geputzt, immer aufs best´, Als ging´s geraden Wegs zum Fest; Stets überstäubt, stets parfümiert – Liebste, fast wird man zum Glauben verführt, Kennte man nicht solcher Künste Grund, Nicht alles sei gut, nicht alles gesund. Dich laß mich sehn, dein wahres Gesicht, Das, wie es ist, das Herz besticht; Fließende Kleider, offen das Haar – Solch süße Saumsal lieb ich fürwahr Mehr als der Künste Spiel und Scherz, Die gut für´s Aug sind, doch nicht für´s Herz.
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Confirmed with Die Fähre, Englische Lyrik aus fünf Jahrhunderten Übersetzt von Richard Flatter, Walter Krieg Verlag, Wien-Bad Bocklet-Zürich, 1954, 2nd edition (1st edition 1936), page 113.
Text Authorship:
- by Richard Flatter (1891 - 1960), "Süße Saumsal", appears in Die Fähre, Englische Lyrik aus fünf Jahrhunderten, first published 1936 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Ben Jonson (1572 - 1637)
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Volkmar Henschel
This text was added to the website: 2021-02-24
Line count: 12
Word count: 78