by John Lockman (flourished c1763)
Well‑judging Phyllis
Language: English
Near Thames' green banks a lovelorn nymph reclined, Thus taxed her Thrysis, various as the wind, Hast thou, perfidious youth, the oaths forgot? And must the mournful willow be my lot? Since thou, contemning Gods thy vow hast broke, Thus played with love and made my fame thy joke; A dire revenge on thee I now have chose, For soon these waves shall end my life and woes. This said, she hasted to the sounding flood, And, shudd'ring o'er its flow'ry margin stood: The tears of anguish starting in her eye; Resolved to plunge, she vents a dismal sigh. But, in his terrors, whils grim Death appears, She cries (her wav'ring mind o'erspread with fears): 'Tis madness all! I'll fly back to the plains, I've but one life, and there's a choice of swains.
Text Authorship:
- by John Lockman (flourished c1763) [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 William Boyce (1710 - 1779), "Well-judging Phyllis" [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 134