by Ben Jonson (1572 - 1637)
Have you seen but a bright lily grow? See base text
Language: English
Have you seen but a bright Lilie grow before rude hands had touch'd it; Have you mark'd but the fall of the snow before the soil hath smucht it. Have you felt the wool of the Beaver, Or Swansdown ever; or have smelt of the Bud of the Bryer, Or the Nard in the fire; Or have tasted the Bag of the Bee; O so whyte, O so soft, O so sweet, so sweet, so sweet is she! O so whyte, O so soft, O so sweet, so sweet, so sweet is she!
Composition:
- Set to music by Elizabeth Maconchy (1907 - 1994), "Have you seen but a bright lily grow?", 1929, published 1930 [ voice and piano ]
Text Authorship:
- by Ben Jonson (1572 - 1637), appears in The Devil's an Ass
See other settings of this text.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 13
Word count: 96