Let the Graces and Pleasures repair, With the youthful, the gay, the witty and fair. May all harmless delights, Happy days and kind nights, For ever attend this blest pair.
Prophetess or The History of Dioclesian
Song Cycle by Henry Purcell (1658/9 - 1695)
?. Let the Graces  [sung text checked 1 time]
Authorship:
- by Thomas Betterton (1635? - 1710)
Based on:
- a text in English by John Fletcher (1579 - 1625) [text unavailable] and by Philip Massinger (1583 - 1640) [text unavailable]
Go to the single-text view
Researcher for this page: Virginia Knight18. What shall I do  [sung text checked 1 time]
What shall I do to show how much I love her? How many millions of sighs can suffice? That which wins other's hearts, never can move her, Those common methods of love she'll despise. I will love more than man e'er lov'd before me; Gaze on her all the day, and melt all the night; 'Till for her own sake, at last she'll implore me, To love her less, to preserve our delight. Since gods themselves could not ever be loving, Men must have breathing recruits for new joys; I wish my love could be ever improving, Though eager love more than sorrow destroys. In fair Aurelia's arms leave me expiring, To be embalm'd by the sweets of her breath; To the last moment I'll still be desiring; Never had hero so glorious a death.
Authorship:
- by Thomas Betterton (1635? - 1710) [an adaptation]
- by Philip Massinger (1583 - 1640) [an adaptation]
Based on:
- a text in English by John Fletcher (1579 - 1625) [text unavailable]
Go to the single-text view
Researcher for this page: Virginia Knight31b. Since from my dear Astrea's sight  [sung text checked 1 time]
Since from my dear Astraea's sight I was so rudely torn, My soul has never known delight, Unless it were to mourn. But oh! alas, with weeping eyes And bleeding heart I lie; Thinking on her, whose absence 'tis, That makes me wish to die.
Authorship:
- by Thomas Betterton (1635? - 1710) [an adaptation]
- by Philip Massinger (1583 - 1640) [an adaptation]
Based on:
- a text in English by John Fletcher (1579 - 1625) [text unavailable]
Go to the single-text view
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Depuis que de la vue de ma chère Astrée", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
33. Still I'm wishing  [sung text checked 1 time]
Still I'm wishing, still desiring; Sill she's giving, I requiring; Yet each gift I think too small. Still the morn I am presented, Still the less I am contented, [Thro']1 she vows she has giv'n me all. Can Drusilla give no more? Has she lavish'd all her store? Must my hopes to nothing fall? O you know not half your treasure; Give me more, give over measure, Yet you can never, never give me all.
Authorship:
- by Thomas Betterton (1635? - 1710) [an adaptation]
- by Philip Massinger (1583 - 1640) [an adaptation]
Based on:
- a text in English by John Fletcher (1579 - 1625) [text unavailable]
Go to the single-text view
View original text (without footnotes)1 [sic]
Researcher for this page: Virginia Knight
35. Tell me why  [sung text checked 1 time]
Tell me why, my charming fair, Tell me why you thus deny me. Can despair of these sighs and looks of care Make Corinna ever fly me? O Mirtillo! you're above me; I respect but dare not love ye. She who hears, inclines to sin, Who parleys half gives up the town, And ravenous love soon enters in, When once the out-work's beaten down: Then my sighs and tears won't move ye, No Mirtillo, you're above me; I respect but dare not love ye. Could this lovely, charming maid Think Mirtillo would deceive her? Could Corinna be afraid She by him should be betray'd? No, too well, I love her, Therefore cannot be above her. O let love with love be paid. My heart, my life, my all I give her. Let me now receive her. Oh! how gladly we believe, When the heart is too, too willing: Can that look, that face deceive? Can he take delight in killing? Ah! I die if you deceive me. Yet I will believe ye.
Authorship:
- by Thomas Betterton (1635? - 1710) [an adaptation]
- by Philip Massinger (1583 - 1640) [an adaptation]
Based on:
- a text in English by John Fletcher (1579 - 1625) [text unavailable]
Go to the single-text view
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]