possibly by Thomas Carew (1595? - 1639?) and possibly by Robert Herrick (1591 - 1674)

The Primrose
Language: English 
Ask me why I send you here,
The firstling of the infant year;
Ask me why I send to you,
This primrose all bepearl'd with dew;
I straight will whisper in your ears
The sweets of love are washed with tears.

Ask me why this flower doth shew
So yellow, green, and sickly too:
Ask me why the stalk is weak
And bending yet it doth not break;
I must tell you, these discover
What doubts and fears are in a lover.

Confirmed with The British Critic, for January, February, March, April, May, and June. Volume XIX, 1802, page 621, and attributed to Carew. See also The Primrose by Robert Burns, which appears to be inspired by this poem.


Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

Set in a modified version by Frank Bridge.

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

  • Also set in English, [adaptation] ; composed by Henry Lawes.

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2022-01-19
Line count: 12
Word count: 82