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
Simple songs
Song Cycle by Leonard J[ordan] Lehrman (b. 1949)
1. Simple song  [sung text checked 1 time]
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
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- GER German (Deutsch) (Adolf von Marées) , "Warum so blaß?"
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!"
Research team for this page: Ted Perry , Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor] , Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor] , Johann Winkler
2. Advice to Virgins  [sung text checked 1 time]
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, Old Time is still a-flying: And [this]1 same flower that smiles today Tomorrow will be dying. [The]2 glorious lamp of heaven, the Sun, The higher he's a-getting The sooner will his race be run, And nearer he's to setting. That age is best which is the first, When youth and blood are warmer; [But being spent, the worse, and worst Times, still succeed the former. ]3 Then be not coy, but use your time; And while ye may, go marry: For having lost but once your prime, You may forever tarry.
Authorship:
- by Robert Herrick (1591 - 1674), "To the virgins, to make much of time"
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Alfredo García) , "A las vírgenes, para que aprovechen el tiempo", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
1 Lawes: "that"
2 Dring: "That"
3 Lawes: "Expect not the last and worst, / Time still succeeds the former."
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]