by Samuel Daniel (1562 - 1619)
Like as the lute delights, or else...
Language: English
Like as the lute delights, or else dislikes, As is his art that plays upon the same; So sounds my muse, according as she strikes On my heart strings, high-tuned unto her fame. Her touch doth cause the warble of the sound, Which here I yield in lamentable wise; A wailing descant on the sweetest ground, Whose due reports give honour to her eyes. If any pleasing relish here I use, Then judge, the world, her beauty gives the same; Else harsh my style, untuneable my muse: Hoarse sounds the voice that praiseth not her name. For no ground else could make the music such, Nor other hand could give so sweet a touch.
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Text Authorship:
- by Samuel Daniel (1562 - 1619), "Sonnet 47", appears in Delia. Contayning certayne sonnets: with the complaint of Rosamond, first published 1592 [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 John Danyel (1564 - 1626), "Like as the lute delights" [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 114