by Henry Hughes (c1602 - c1652)
Loves Martyr
Language: English
How long shall I a Martyr be, To love and womans cruelty? Or why doth sullen Fate confine My heart to one that is not mine: Had I ere lov'd as others doe, But only for an houre or two Then there had store of reason bin, Why I should suffer for my sin. But love thou knowest with what a flame I have ador'd my mistris name: How I neer offered other fires, But such as rose from chaste desires: Nor have I ere prophaned thy shrine With an inconstant fickle minde; Yet thou combining with my Fate, Hath forc't my love and her to hate. O Love if her supremacy Have not a greater power then thee For pities sake then once be kinde, And throw a dart to change her minde; Thy deity we shall suspect, If our reward must be neglect. Then make her love or let me bee Inspir'd with scorne as well as she.
Authorship:
- by Henry Hughes (c1602 - c1652) [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), "Loves Martyr", published 1655 [ voice and continuo ], from The Second Book of Ayres, and Dialogues, no. 12, Confirmed with The Second Book of Ayres and Dialogues, for One, Two, and Three, by Henry Lawes , John Playford, London 1655, Page 11. [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2021-12-30
Line count: 24
Word count: 160