When I was fair and young, and favour graced me,
Of many was I sought, their mistress for to be.
But I did scorn them all, and [said to]1 them therefore:
"Go, go, go, seek some otherwhere, importune me no more."
Then spake fair Venus' son, that proud, victorious boy,
[Saying: You dainty dame, for]2 that you be so coy,
I will so pluck your [plumes as]3 you shall say no more:
"Go, go, go, seek some otherwhere, importune me no more."
[ ... ]
[As soon as he had said]4, such change grew in my breast
That neither night [nor day I could take]5 any rest,
[Wherefore I]6 did repent that I had said before:
"Go, go, go, seek some otherwhere, importune me no more."
Four Madrigals
Song Cycle by Hans Gál (1890 - 1987)
1. Youth and Cupid  [sung text checked 1 time]
Authorship:
- by Elizabeth I of England (1533 - 1603), "When I was young and fair", first published 1580-9
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View original text (without footnotes)1 Gál: "answered"
2 Gál: "And said: Fine dame, since"
3 Gál: "plumes, that"
4 Gál: "When he had spake these words"
5 Gál: "or day since that I could find"
6 Gál: "Then lo! I"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
2. True love  [sung text checked 1 time]
My true love hath my heart, and I have his, By just exchange one [for another]1 given: I hold his dear, and mine he cannot miss, There never was a better bargain driven: My true love hath my heart, and I have his. His heart in me keeps him and me in one, My heart in him his thoughts and senses guides: He loves my heart, for once it was his own, I cherish his because in me it bides: My true love hath my heart, and I have his.
Authorship:
- by Philip Sidney, Sir (1554 - 1586), title 1: "The bargain", title 2: "A ditty"
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View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Francis T. Palgrave, ed. (1824-1897), The Golden Treasury., 1875, as "A ditty"
Parodied in Archibald Stodart-Walker's My true friend hath my hat.
1 Parry: "to the other"Note: Somervell's setting has several changes to the punctuation (as supplied by Mike Pearson):
Line One: No first comma Line Two: "giv'n" and full stop not colon Line Three: No first comma Line Four: "driv'n" and full stop not colon Line Five: No first comma Line Seven: Full stop not colon Line Eight: Full stop not colon Line Ten: No first comma
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
3. A cradle song  [sung text checked 1 time]
Golden slumbers kiss your eyes, Smiles awake you when you rise: Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry, And I will sing a lullaby, Rock them, rock [them]1, lullaby. Care is heavy, therefore sleep you; You are care and care must keep you: Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry, And I will sing a lullaby: Rock them, rock [them]1, lullaby.
Authorship:
- by Thomas Dekker (c1572 - 1632), "The song", appears in The Pleasant Comoedy of Patient Grissill, first published 1603
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View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Henry Chettle and Thomas Dekker, Patient Grissil, London, 1632. Modernized spelling.
1Warlock: "a lulla"Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
4. Foolish love  [sung text checked 1 time]
Some say love, foolish love, doth rule and govern gods. I say love, inconstant love, sets men's senses far at odds. Some swear love, smooth-face love, is sweetest sweet that men can have. I say love, sour love, makes virtue yield as beauty's slave. A bitter sweet, a folly vorst of all, that forceth wisdom to be folly's thrall. Love is sweet. In fading pleasures that do pain. Wherein sweet? Is that sweet, that yieldeth sorrow for a gain? If love's sweet, herein sweet, that minute's joys are monthly woes. 'Tis not sweet, that is sweet nowhere but where repentance grows. Then love who list, if beauty be so sour: Labour for me; love rest in prince's bower.
Authorship:
- by Robert Greene (1558 - 1592)
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]