possibly by Christopher Hatton, Sir (1581 - 1619)
Fair is the Rose, yet fades with heat or...
Language: English
Fair is the Rose, yet fades with heat or cold, Sweet are the Violets, yet soon grow old, The Lilly’s white, yet in one day ‘tis done, White is the Snow yet melts against the Sun. So white, so sweet was my fair Mistress’ face, Yet altered quite in one short hour’s space. So short lived beauty a vain gloss doth borrow, Breathing delight today, but none tomorrow.
Text Authorship:
- possibly by Christopher Hatton, Sir (1581 - 1619)
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Orlando Gibbons (1583 - 1625), "Fair is the Rose, yet fades with heat or cold", published 1612 [ sattb chorus ], from First Set of Madrigals, no. 16, Verified with The First Sett of Madrigals and Mottets of 5. parts: apt for Viols and Voyces by Orlando Gibbons, Thomas Snodham, London 1612. [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2025-10-27
Line count: 8
Word count: 68