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by Katherine Philips (1631 - 1664)

Orinda upon Little Hector Philips
Language: English 
Twice forty months of Wedlock did I stay,
    Then had my vows crown'd with a Lovely boy,
And yet in forty days he dropt away,
    O swift Visissitude of humane joy.

I did but see him and he dis-appear'd,
    I did but pluck the Rose-bud and it fell,
A sorrow unforeseen and scarcely fear'd,
    For ill can mortals their afflictions spell.

And now (sweet Babe) what can my trembling heart
    Suggest to right my doleful fate or thee,
Tears are my Muse and sorrow all my Art,
    So piercing groans must be thy Elogy.

Thus whilst no eye is witness of my mone,
    I grieve thy loss ( Ah boy too dear to live)
And let the unconcerned World alone,
    Who neither will, nor can refreshment give.

An Off'ring too for thy sad Tomb I have,
    Too just a tribute to thy early Herse,
Receive these gasping numbers to thy grave,
    The last of thy unhappy Mothers Verse. 

Text Authorship:

  • by Katherine Philips (1631 - 1664), "Orinda upon Little Hector Philips" [author's text checked 1 time 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 Ben Moore (b. 1960), "Orinda upon Little Hector Philips" [soprano and piano], from So Free Am I (Seven Settings of Poems by Women), no. 3. [
     text not verified 
    ]

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-04-28
Line count: 20
Word count: 158

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