Three madrigals

Song Cycle by Garth Baxter (b. 1946)

1. There is a lady sweet and kind
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
There is a Lady sweet and kind,
Was never face so pleased my mind;
I did but see her passing by,
And yet I'll love her till I die.

Her gesture, motion and her smiles,
Her wit, her voice, my heart beguiles;
Beguiles my heart, I know not why,
And yet I'll love her till I die.

Her free behavior, winning looks,
Will make a Lawyer burn his books;
I touched her not, alas! not I,
And yet I'll love her till I die.

 ... 

Cupid has wings and he does range;
So if her land my love does change,
But change she earth or change she sky, 
And yet I'll love her till I die.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, found on back of leaf 53 of Popish Kingdome or Reigne of Antichrist; published in 1607 in Thomas Ford's Music of Sundry Kinds

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

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

2. The silver swan
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
The silver swan who, living, had no note,
when death approached, unlocked her silent throat.

Leaning her breast against the reedy shore,
thus sung her first and last, and sung no more:

"Farewell all joys, O death come close my eyes.
More geese than swans now live, more fools than wise."

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, "The silver swan", first published 1612
  • possibly by Orlando Gibbons (1583 - 1625), "The silver swan", first published 1612
  • sometimes misattributed to Thomas Morley (1557 - 1602)

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

  • FRE French (Français) (Dwain Richardson) , "Le cygne argenté", copyright © 2003, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • GER German (Deutsch) (Martin Stock) , "Der Silberschwan", copyright © 2001, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

3. Love me not for comely grace
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Love me not for comely grace,
For my pleasing eye or my pleasing face,
Nor for any outward part,
Nor for a constant heart:
  For these may fail or turn to ill,
   So you and I shall sever:
Keep, therefore, a true lover's eye,
And love me still but know not why;
  So you have the same reason still
   To dote on me ever!

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 230