by Elizabeth I of England (1533 - 1603)
Youth and Cupid See original
Language: English
When I was fair and young, and favour graced me,
Of many was I sought, their mistress for to be.
But I did scorn them all, and said to them therefore:
"Go, go, go, seek some otherwhere, importune me no more."
...
Then spake fair Venus' son, that proud, victorious boy,
Saying: You dainty dame, for that you be so coy,
I will so pluck your plumes as you shall say no more:
"Go, go, go, seek some otherwhere, importune me no more."
As soon as he had said, such change grew in my breast
That neither night nor day I could take any rest,
Wherefore I did repent that I had said before:
"Go, go, go, seek some otherwhere, importune me no more."
Composition:
- Set to music by Hans Gál (1890 - 1987), "Youth and Cupid", op. 51 no. 1 (1939), published 1949, stanzas 1,3-4 [ SATB chorus a cappella ], from Four Madrigals, no. 1, Novello, London
Text Authorship:
- by Elizabeth I of England (1533 - 1603), "When I was young and fair", first published 1580-9
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-02-11
Line count: 16
Word count: 163