by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
What if I seek for love of thee
Language: English
What if I seek for love of thee, Shall I find beauty kind To desert that still shall dwell in me? But if I sue and live forlorn, Then alas never was Any wretch to more misfortune born. Though thy looks have charmed mine eyes, I can forbeare to love. But if ever sweet desire Set my woeful heart on fire Then can I never remove. Frown not on me unless thou hate, For thy frown cast me down To despair of my most hapless state: Smile not on me unless thou love, For thy smile will beguile My desires if thou unsteadfast prove: If thy needs wilt bend thy brows, A while refrain, my dear, But if thou wilt smile on me, Let it not delayed be: Comfort is never too near.
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Robert Jones (fl. 1597-1615), "What if I seek for love of thee", published 1601 [counter-tenor and lute], from the collection First Book of Airs, no. 18. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2014-02-23
Line count: 22
Word count: 133