by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Shall I sue?
Language: English
Shall I sue, shall I seek for grace? Shall I pray shall I prove? Shall I strive to a heav'nly joy, With an earthly love? Shall I think that a bleeding heart Or a wounded eye, Or a sigh can ascend the clouds, To attain so high? Silly wretch, forsake these dreams Of a vain desire, O bethink what high regard Holy hopes do require. Favour is as fair as things are, Treasure is not bought, Favour is not won with words, Nor the wish of a thought. Justice gives each man his own, Though my love be just, Yet will not she pity my grief, Therefore die I must. Silly heart then yield to die Perish in despair, Witness yet how fain I die, When I die for the fair.
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 John Dowland (1562 - 1626), "Shall I sue?" [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: 24
Word count: 131