First Set of English Madrigals

by John Ward (1571 - 1638)

?. O say, dear life, when shall these twin‑born berries
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
O say, dear life, when shall these twin-born berries,
So lovely-ripe, by my rude lips be tasted?
Shall I not pluck (sweet, say not nay) those cherries?
O let them not with summer’s heat be blasted.
Nature, thou know’st, bestow’d them free on thee;
Then be thou kind — bestow them free on me.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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Lyrics from the Song-Books of the Elizabethan Age, ed. by A. H. Bullen, London, John C. Nimmo, 1887, page 91.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 55