by Henry King (1592 - 1669)
Dry those fair, those crystal eyes
Language: English
Dry those fair, those crystal eyes, Which, like growing fountains, rise, To drown their banks : grief's sullen brooks Would better flow in furrow'd looks ; Thy lovely face was never meant To be the shore of discontent. Then clear those waterish stars again, Which else portend a lasting rain ; Lest the clouds which settle there, Prolong my winter all the year, And thy example others make In love with sorrow for thy sake.
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Text Authorship:
- by Henry King (1592 - 1669), "Dry those fair, those crystal eyes" [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 Edward Elgar, Sir (1857 - 1934), "Dry those fair, those crystal eyes", 1899, published 1899, first performed 1899 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Ivor (Bertie) Gurney (1890 - 1937), "Against weeping", c1922 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by William Martin Yeates Hurlstone (1876 - 1906), "Dry those fair, those crystal eyes", 1902, published 1909 [ baritone and piano ], Goodwin and Tabb [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-02-05
Line count: 12
Word count: 72