possibly by Nicholas Breton (1542 - 1626)

All my wits hath will enwrapped
Language: English 
All my wits hath will enwrapped,
All my sense desire entrapped.
All my faith to fancy fixed,
All my joys to love amixed. 
All my love I offer thee, 
Once for all yet look on me.

Let me see thy heavenly feature, 
Oh heavens, what a heavenly Creature, 
All the powers of heaven preserve thee, 
Love himself is sworn to serve thee, 
Princess in a Goddess’ place, 
Blessed be that Angel’s face. 

Looke how Love thy servant dieth,
Hark how Hope for comfort crieth, 
Take some pity on poor Fancy, 
Let not Fancy prove a franzy, 
Comfort this poor heart of mine, 
Love and I and all are thine.

Glossary

Franzy = irritable or peevish

Text Authorship:

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 Bartlet (flourished 1606-1610), "All my wits hath will enwrapped", published 1606 [ vocal quartet for soprano, alto, tenor, bass with lute ], from A booke of Ayres with a Triplicitie of Musicke, no. 7, Confirmed with A booke of Ayres with a Triplicitie of Musicke by John Bartlet, Printed by John Windet, for John Browne and are to be sold at his shop in Saint Dunstan's Churchyard in Fleet Street, London 1606. [sung text checked 1 time]

Researcher for this page: Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2024-11-12
Line count: 18
Word count: 109