Three Songs , opus 55

by Cyril Meir Scott (1879 - 1970)

1. Lovely kind & kindly loving  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Lovely kind, and kindly loving,
Such a mind were worth the moving;
Truly fair, and fairly true -
Where are all these but in you?

Wisely kind, and kindly wise;
Blessed life, where such love lies!
Wise, and kind, and fair, and true -
Lovely live all these in you.

Sweetly dear, and dearly sweet,
Blessed where these blessings meet,
Sweet, fair, wise, kind, blessed, true -
Blessed be all these in you!

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2. Why so pale and wan?  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Why so pale and wan, fond lover?
  Prithee, why so pale?
Will, when looking well can't move her,
  Looking ill prevail?
  Prithee, why so pale?

Why so dull and mute, young sinner?
  Prithee, why so mute?
Will, when speaking well can't win her,
  Saying nothing [do't]1?
  Prithee, why so mute?

Quit, quit for shame, this will not move,
  This cannot take her;
If of herself she will not love,
  Nothing can make her;
  [The devil take her!]2

Text Authorship:

  • by John Suckling, Sir (1609 - 1642), no title, written 1637, Printed by John Haviland for Thomas Walkley, at the sign of the Flying Horse near York House, London, first published 1638

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Confirmed with Works in prose and Verse, by Sir John Suckling, Aglaura, Act IV, Scene 2, G. Routledge, London 1910, Page 115.

1 Stöhr: "do"
2 Britten: "Let who will take her!"

3. Love's quarrel  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Standing by the river, gazing on the river, 
See it paved with starbeams ; heaven is at our feet. 
Now the wave is troubled, now the rushes quiver ; 
Vanished is the starlight -- it was a deceit. 

Comes a little cloudlet 'twixt ourselves and heaven, 
And from all the river fades the silver track ; 
Put thine arms around me, whisper low "Forgiven!" --
See how on the river starlight settles back.

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