by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Alas faire face, why doth that smoothed brow
Language: English
Alas faire face why doth that smoothed brow: Those speaking eies ros'd lips, and blushing beautie. All in them selves confirme a scorn full vow: To spoile my hopes of love, my love of dutie. The time hath bin, when I was better grast: I now the same, and yet that time is past. Is it because that thou art onely faire, Oh no such gracefull lookes banish disdaine, How then, to feede my passions with dispaire, Feede on sweet love, so I be loved againe. Well may thy publike scorne, and outward pride, Inward affections, and best likings hide. Breath but a gentle aire, and I shall live, Smyle in a clowde, so shall my hopes renue, One kind regard, and second seing give, One rising Morne, and my blacke woes subdue. If not, yet looke upon the friendly Sunne, That by his beames, my beames to thine may runne.
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Francis Pilkington (d. 1638), "Alas faire face, why doth that smoothed brow", published 1605 [ satb quartet, lute ], from First Book of Songs or Airs, no. 4, Confirmed with The First Book of Songs or Ayres, by Francis Pilkington, T Este, London 1605. [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2023-02-21
Line count: 18
Word count: 151