by James Harrington (1611 - 1677)
A Pastorall Dialogue between two Nymphs Amarillis and Daphne
Language: English
Amarillis: Daphne, Shepheards if they knew Their happines would not be Kings; Daphne: Ther's nothing in the world more true Than that which Amarillis sings Amarillis: Then Daphne tune thine Oaten Reed, And let us know this oncly strife, Whether thy Pipe or mine exceed In singing of a Shepheards life. Daphne: Upon our huts of Turfe without The grasse within the Ivie's sprout, The hills yeeld sedge and rusnes store To thack the roose and strew the floore. Amarillis: The angry Thistles shed Us Down to make our bed. Daphne: Lambkins bequeath us when they die, The blankets warm wherein we lie, Amarillis: The morning sunne at sluggards blushes Daphne: But lights us early through the bushes, Both: Where Philomel amongst the Roses, Her sweet, her sweet melody discloses; Amarillis: And whilest we wash our eyes and hands In basons of some Fountaine pure, With melting Notes poore heart shee stands, As if shee held the weeping Ewer. Both: Hence with devotion as we go T'unfold our flocks the fields we strow, Till pierced clouds th'impression feele, And tuft the Cushion where wee kneele. Amarillis: Then ope the grate of hayle wands Wherein our bleating Prisoners stand. Daphne: The Wether Rings for joy his Bell. Amarillis: Whilst from their pound the Ewes doe bound At the sound of the merry peale. Daphne: The pretty Lambe but new awake, Bridles in her pretty chin, And stretches out her curled back. Amarillis: Nor are our pipes mute as they passe To nibble up the three leav'd grasse, Both: And straine such rufts of greene as these, Into their into their milke and silver fleece, Amarillis: When the high mountaines give no shade, Daphne: The woods and fountains lend their ayd. Amarillis: Where harmles swains doe joine their mirth, Their bottles and their bags with ours, Daphne: As on the table of the Earth Wee feast and sport it in the bowers Amarillis: Whil'st Phoebus rages, Pan asswages, Both: To whose ayd we sing; Daphne: And when the heat Makes us retreat, Both: upon the Downs we make a Ring, Amarillis: Then our fancies show in Dances. Daphne: Change and chances Incident to every thing Amarillis: Then folde our flockes, Daphne: And to our shed, Both: And with the Lambe Wee goe to bed. Chorus: Ye purple Robes, and Crowned heads, Upon this life the shepheard leads, Could you without ambition looke you'd change your Scepter, for his Crook.
Authorship:
- by James Harrington (1611 - 1677) [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 Lawes (c1595 - 1662), "A Pastorall Dialogue between two Nymphs Amarillis and Daphne", published 1655 [ 2 voices, continuo ], from The Second Book of Ayres, and Dialogues, no. 38, Confirmed with The Second Book of Ayres and Dialogues, for One, Two, and Three, by Henry Lawes, John Playford, London 1655, Page 33. [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2022-01-01
Line count: 94
Word count: 407