Shakespeare Songs, Book V

by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (1895 - 1968)

2. The willow  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Desdemona
 The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree,
 Sing all a green willow:
 Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee,
 Sing willow, willow, willow:
 The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur'd her moans;
 Sing willow, willow, willow;
 Her salt tears fell from her, and soften'd the stones;

 [Lay by these:--]1

 Sing willow, willow, willow;

 [Prithee, hie thee; he'll come anon:--]1

 Sing all a green willow [must be my garland.]2

 [Let nobody blame him; his scorn I approve,-]3

 [Nay, that's not next. -- Hark! who is't that knocks?

Emilia:
 It's the wind.]1

Desdemona:
 [I call'd my love false love; but what said he then? 
 Sing willow, willow, willow:
 If I court moe women, you'll couch with moe men!]4

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

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1 omitted by Fortner, Korngold, Parry, Vaughan Williams
2 Korngold: "my garland must be"
3 omitted by Parry, Vaughan Williams, Fortner
4 omitted by Parry, Vaughan Williams
4 Fortner: "I'd called my love false love, but what did he say?/ Sing willow, willow willow,/ If I court moe women, you'll couch with moe men!"

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

3. Roundel  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Fie on sinful fantasy!
Fie on lust and luxury!
Lust is but a bloody fire,
Kindled with unchaste desire,
Fed in heart, whose flames aspire,
As thoughts do blow them higher and higher.
Pinch him, fairies, mutually;
Pinch him for his villany;
Pinch him, and burn him, and turn him about,
Till candles and star-light and moonshine be out.

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 187