possibly by Christopher Hatton, Sir (1581 - 1619)

Nay let me weep, though others’ tears be spent
 (Sung text for setting by O. Gibbons)
 See base text
Language: English 
Nay let me weep, though others’ tears be spent,
Though all eyes dried be, let mine be wet,
Unto thy grave I’ll pay this yearly rent,
Thy liveless Coarse demands of me this debt.
I owe more tears then ever Coarse did crave,
I’ll pay more tears than e’re was paid to grave.

 ...

Liveless Coarse = lifeless corpse

Composition:

    Set to music by Orlando Gibbons (1583 - 1625), "Nay let me weep, though others’ tears be spent", published 1612, stanza 1 [ sattb chorus ], from First Set of Madrigals, no. 17, Verified with The First Sett of Madrigals and Mottets of 5. parts: apt for Viols and Voyces by Orlando Gibbons, Thomas Snodham, London 1612.
        Score: IMSLP [external link]

Text Authorship:

Go to the general single-text view


Researcher for this page: Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2025-10-27
Line count: 18
Word count: 157