by Edward Dering (1625 - 1684)
When first I saw fair Doris eyes
Language: English
When first I saw fair Doris eyes, Cheering like rising day our plains, Not envying others wealthier flocks, I thought my selfe the happiest swain. More blessed yet when my rude eare Heard her harmonious numbers flow, No more swain, I felt the joys Only victorious Princes know. Since which alowd, on thy free lip To story out my hopes, and love, Immortal grown, I held aloft The mansion of dethroned Jove. But when rul'd by kinder starres, Thy namelesse treasures crown my paine, Jove and his empty joyes despis'd, I Shepheard turn'd on earth again. Gods, take your own, sayd I, vain altars now, I chuse a happy fate with her below.
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Text Authorship:
- by Edward Dering (1625 - 1684), John Playford, London, first published 1655 [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 Mary Dering (1629 - 1704), "When first I saw fair Doris eyes", published 1655 [ voice and continuo ], from The Second Book of Ayres, and Dialogues, no. 28, Confirmed with The Second Book of Ayres and Dialogues, for One, Two, and Three, by Henry Lawes, John Playford, London 1655, Page 24. [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2021-12-26
Line count: 18
Word count: 113