by Thomas Campion (1567 - 1620)
Could my heart more tongues imploy
Language: English
Could my heart more tongues imploy
Than it harbors thoughts of griefe,
It is now so farre from ioy,
That it scarce could aske reliefe.
Truest hearts by deedes vnkinde
To despayre are most enclin'd.
Happy mindes that can redeeme
Their engagements how they please ;
That no ioyes, or hopes esteeme,
Halfe so pretious as their ease.
Wisedom should prepare men so
As if they did all foreknow.
Yet no Art or Caution can
Growne affections easily change ;
Vse is such a Lord of Man
That he brookes worst what is strange.
Better neuer to be blest
Than to loose all at the best.
Text Authorship:
- by Thomas Campion (1567 - 1620) [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 Thomas Campion (1567 - 1620), "Could my heart more tongues imploy", published 1617, from the collection The Third and Fourth Booke of Ayres - The Third Booke, no. 12. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2007-11-16
Line count: 18
Word count: 105