Like to the clear in highest sphere Where all imperial glory shines, Of self-same colour is her hair Whether unfolded or in twines: Heigh ho, fair Rosaline. Her eyes are sapphires set in snow, [Resembling]1 heav'n by ev'ry wink; The gods do fear whenas they glow, And I do tremble when I think: Heigh ho, would she were mine! Her cheeks are like the blushing cloud That beautifies Aurora's face, Or like the silver crimson shroud That Phoebus' smiling looks doth grace: Heigh ho, fair Rosaline! Her lips are like two budded roses, Whom ranks of lilies neighbour nigh, Within [whose]2 bounds she balm encloses, Apt to entice a deity: Heigh ho, would she were mine! Her neck like to a stately tower Where Love himself imprison'd lies, To watch for glances every hour From her divine and sacred eyes: Heigh ho, fair Rosaline! Her paps are centres of delight, Her breasts are orbs of heavenly frame, Where Nature moulds the dew of light To feed perfection with the same: Heigh ho, would she were mine! With orient pearl, with ruby red, With marble white, with sapphire blue, Her body every way is fed, Yet soft [to]3 touch and sweet in view: Heigh ho, fair Rosaline! Nature herself her shape admires; The gods are wounded in her sight; And Love forsakes his heavenly fires And at her eyes his brand doth light: Heigh ho, would she were mine! Then muse not, Nymphs, though I bemoan The absence of fair Rosaline, Since for [a]4 fair there 's fairer none, Nor for her virtues so divine: Heigh ho, fair Rosaline: Heigh ho, my heart! would God that she were mine!
C. Parry sets stanzas 1-2, 5
E. Moeran sets stanzas 1-2, 4-5
1 Moeran, Parry: "Refining"
2 Moeran, Parry: "which"
3 Moeran: "in"
4 Moeran, Parry: "her"
Authorship:
- by Thomas Lodge (1558 - 1625), "Rosaline" [author's text checked 1 time 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 Ernest John Moeran (1894 - 1950), "Rosaline", R. 73 (1937), published 1937, stanzas 1-2,4-5 [ voice and piano ], Winthrop Rogers [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, Sir (1848 - 1918), "Rosaline", published 1920, stanzas 1-2,5, from English Lyrics, Twelfth Set, no. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- GER German (Deutsch) (Richard Flatter) , "Rosalinde", appears in Die Fähre, Englische Lyrik aus fünf Jahrhunderten, first published 1936
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 46
Word count: 278
Wie wenn die Sonne golden klar In Glorie aufstrahlt unsrer Welt, So holder Pracht erglüht ihr Haar, Wie´s ihr in Locken niederfällt – Heiho, Rosalinde fein! Ihr Augenpaar, Saphiren gleich, Beschämt des Himmels reinsten Strahl; Die Götter selbst schaun scheel und bleich Und mir – mir bebt das Herz voll Qual: Heiho – wollt´, sie wär mein! Natur, die manches Wunder schuf, Ins eigne Werk ist sie vergafft; Frau Venus neidet ihr den Ruf, Gekränkt ob solchen Zaubers Kraft – Heiho, Rosalinde fein! Gott Amor selbst, der freche Wicht, Vor solcher Schönheit steht er scheu; Und wie er starrt, erlischt sein Licht – An ihrem Blick entflammt er´s neu. Heiho – wollt´, sie wär mein!
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Confirmed with Die Fähre, Englische Lyrik aus fünf Jahrhunderten Übersetzt von Richard Flatter, Walter Krieg Verlag, Wien-Bad Bocklet-Zürich, 1954, 2nd edition (1st edition 1936), page 48.
Authorship:
- by Richard Flatter (1891 - 1960), "Rosalinde", appears in Die Fähre, Englische Lyrik aus fünf Jahrhunderten, first published 1936 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Thomas Lodge (1558 - 1625), "Rosaline"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Volkmar Henschel
This text was added to the website: 2021-02-24
Line count: 20
Word count: 115