by Elkanah Settle (1648 - 1724)
In all our Cinthia's shining sphere
Language: English
In all our Cinthia's shining sphere Methinks the fairest face is here: Say, lovely thing, - what art thou? I came, Sir, from the world below, I once was mortal flesh and blood, And scarce my beauty's bloom display'd, I dropt, - a tender virgin, but I play'd The fool, and died a maid. For which the Gods have sent me here, To shine, a star in Cinthia's sphere. So fair a face in a world so base, yet died a maid? A very, ver maid. Have a care what you say. A pure maid. Are you sure you don't lie? A pure maid. I'll tell you why, The truth that will plainly be seen, For I died so very youngnot full thirteen; Do you think I would deceive you? No, I do believe you. That wonder in any age may once be seen, There may be a maid not full thirteen. But were you to live your life over again, Oh? what would you do then? I'm very much afraid you would still die a maid. And keep your virgin innocence unshaken. I fear you are mistaken. How? not die a maid? No, not I. Not die a maid? Not die a maid, and I'll tell you why. These eyes I'm sure were for love designed, And these charms they were lent me to bless mankind. Then shall I die a maid? No, no, no, no, no, no! Then will you die a maid? No, I hope I have more wit than so. I hope you have more wit than so. I'm sure I have more wit than so.
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Text Authorship:
- by Elkanah Settle (1648 - 1724), "The World in the Moon" [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 Henry Purcell (1658/9 - 1695), "In all our Cinthia's shining sphere", Z. 496. [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: 39
Word count: 132