by Thomas Stanley (1625 - 1678)
He would not be tempted See original
Language: English
O turn away those cruel eyes, The stars of my undoing! Or death, in such a bright disguise, May tempt a second wooing. Punish their blind and impious pride, Who dare contemn thy glory! It was my fall that deified Thy name, and seal’d thy story. Yet no new suffering can prepare A higher praise to crown thee; Though my first death proclaim thee fair, My second will unthrone thee. Lovers will doubt thou canst entice No other for thy fuel, And if thou turn one victim twice, and think thee poor or cruel.
Composition:
- Set to music by Henry Lawes (c1595 - 1662), "He would not be tempted", published 1655 [ voice and continuo ], from The Second Book of Ayres, and Dialogues, no. 6, Confirmed with The Second Book of Ayres and Dialogues, for One, Two, and Three, by Henry Lawes , John Playford, London 1655, Page 7.
Text Authorship:
- by Thomas Stanley (1625 - 1678), "The Relapse"
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Researcher for this page: Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2021-12-27
Line count: 16
Word count: 98