Seven Songs

Song Cycle by Francis Hopkinson (1737 - 1791)

7. Rondo
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
My gen'rous heart disdains the Slave of love to be;
I scorn his servile chains and boast my liberty.
This whining and pining and wasting with Care
Are not to my taste, be she ever so fair.

Shall a girl's capricious frown
Sink my noble spirits down?
Shall a face of white and red
Make me droop my silly head?
Shall I set me down and sigh
For an eyebrow or an eye,
For a braided lock of hair
Curse my fortune and despair?

My gen'rous heart disdains the Slave of love to be;
I scorn his servile chains and boast my liberty.
This whining and pining and wasting with Care
Are not to my taste, be she ever so fair.

Still uncertain is tomorrow,
Not quite certain is today.
Shall I waste my time to sorrow,
Shall I languish life away
All because a cruel maid
Hath not love with love repaid?

My gen'rous heart disdains the Slave of love to be;
I scorn his servile chains and boast my liberty.
This whining and pining and wasting with Care
Are not to my taste, be she ever so fair.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Go to the general single-text view

Researcher for this page: John Glenn Paton [Guest Editor]
Total word count: 190