by Thomas Stanley (1625 - 1678)

I prithee let my heart alone!
Language: English 
I prithee let my heart alone!
Since now tis rais'd above thee;
Not all the beauty thou dost own
Again can make me love thee.
He that was shipwreck'd once before
By such a Siren's call, 
And yet neglects to shun the shore,
Deserves his second fall!

Each flatt'ring kiss, each tempting smile
Thou dost in vain bestow,
Some other lovers might beguile 
Who not thy falsehood know.
But I am proof against all art:
No vows shall e'er persuade me 
Twice to present a wounded heart
To her that hath betray'd me.

Could I again be brought to love
Thy form, though more divine, 
I might thy scorn as justly move
As now thou suffer'st mine.

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with Thomas Stanley: his original lyrics, complete, in their collated readings of 1647, 1651, 1657 by Thomas Stanley, edited by Louise Imogen Guiney, J R Tutin, Hull 1907. Page 65.


Text Authorship:

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 Gamble (d. 1687), no title, published 1657 [ voice and bass continuo ], from Ayres and dialogues, no. 9, Confirmed with Ayres and dialogues (to be sung to the theorbo-lute or bass-viol) by John Gamble. Printed by W. Godbid for Humphry Mosley at the Princes-Arms In St. Paul's Church-yard, London 1657.
        Score: IMSLP [external link]  [sung text checked 1 time]

Researcher for this page: Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2025-11-30
Line count: 20
Word count: 117