by Thomas d'Urfey (1653 - 1723)
How vile are the Sordid Intrigues
Language: English
How vile are the Sordid Intrigues o' th'Town, Cheating and Lying perpetually sway; From Bully and Punk, to the Politick Gown, With Plotting and Sotting, they waste the day; All our Discourse is of Foreign Affairs, The French and the Wars Is always the Cry, Marriage alas is declining, Nay though a Poor Virgin lye Pining, Ah curse of this jarring, what luck have I? I thought a young Trader by Ogling Charms, Into my Conjugal Fetters to bring, I planted my Snare too for one that lov'd Arms, But found his Design was another thing: From the Court Province, down to the dull Citts, Both Cullies, and Wits of Marriage are shye, Great are the Sins of the Nation, Ah shame on the wretched Occasion, Ah Curse of the Monsieur, what Luck have I?
Authorship:
- by Thomas d'Urfey (1653 - 1723) [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), "How vile are the Sordid Intrigues", Z. 602 no. 2, from the incidental music to The Marriage-hater Match'd, no. 2 [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Virginia Knight
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 135