by John Fletcher (1579 - 1625)
Translation by Thomas Betterton (1635? - 1710) and by Philip Massinger (1583 - 1640)
What shall I do
Language: English  after the English
What shall I do to show how much I love her? How many millions of sighs can suffice? That which wins other's hearts, never can move her, Those common methods of love she'll despise. I will love more than man e'er lov'd before me; Gaze on her all the day, and melt all the night; 'Till for her own sake, at last she'll implore me, To love her less, to preserve our delight. Since gods themselves could not ever be loving, Men must have breathing recruits for new joys; I wish my love could be ever improving, Though eager love more than sorrow destroys. In fair Aurelia's arms leave me expiring, To be embalm'd by the sweets of her breath; To the last moment I'll still be desiring; Never had hero so glorious a death.
Authorship:
- by Thomas Betterton (1635? - 1710) [an adaptation] [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
- by Philip Massinger (1583 - 1640) [an adaptation] [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by John Fletcher (1579 - 1625) [text unavailable]
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), "What shall I do", Z. 627 no. 18 (1690), from Prophetess or The History of Dioclesian, no. 18. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Virginia Knight
This text was added to the website: 2003-11-21
Line count: 16
Word count: 135