Whilst I with grief did on you look,
When Love had turn'd your Brain,
From you, I the contagion took,
And for you bore the pain.

Marcella, then your Lover prize,
And be not too severe;
Use well the conquest of your Eyes,
For Pride has cost you dear.

Ambrosio treats your Flames with scorn,
And racks your tender mind,
Withdraw your Smiles and Frowns return,
And pay him in his Kind.

Note: Dryden's play "The Spanish Friar, or the Double Discovery," was published in 1681. Purcell's song "Whilst I with grief" dates from 1695 but the words do not appear in the play itself so the words may or may not be by Dryden.

Text Authorship:

• possibly by John Dryden (1631 - 1700) [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), "Whilst I with grief", Z. 610, published 1695, from "The Spanish Friar or The Double Discovery" [
   text verified 1 time
  ]

Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson

This text was added to the website: 2007-11-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 72