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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Translation by Helen Jane Waddell (1889 - 1965)

Dic quid agis, formosa Venus, si nescis...
Language: Latin 
Dic quid agis, formosa Venus, si nescis amanti
ferre vicem? perit omne decus, dum deperit aetas.
marcent post rorem violae, rosa perdit odorem,
lilia post vernum posito candore liquescunt.
haec metuas exempla precor, et semper amanti
redde vicem, quia semper amat, qui semper amatur.

About the headline (FAQ)

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [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):

    [ None yet in the database ]

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

  • Also set in English, a translation by Helen Jane Waddell (1889 - 1965) , appears in Medieval Latin Lyrics, Codex Salmasianus , first published 1929 ; composed by Jean Coulthard.
      • Go to the text.

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-10-27
Line count: 6
Word count: 44

O lovely Venus
Language: English  after the Latin 
Lovely Venus, what's to do
If the loved loves not again?
Beauty passes, youth's undone,
Violets wither, 'spite of dew,
Roses shrivel in the sun,
Lilies all their whiteness stain.
O lovely lady, take these home to you
And who loves thee, love again.

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.

Text Authorship:

  • by Helen Jane Waddell (1889 - 1965), appears in Medieval Latin Lyrics, Codex Salmasianus , first published 1929 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

Based on:

  • a text in Latin by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist
    • Go to the text page.

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by Jean Coulthard (1908 - 2000), "O lovely Venus", 1962 [ baritone and piano ], from Six Mediæval Love Songs, no. 6 [sung text checked 1 time]

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-10-27
Line count: 8
Word count: 44

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