by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
From Citheron the warlike boy is fled
Language: English
From Citheron the warlike boy is fled And smiling sits upon a Virgin's lap, Thereby to train poor misers to the trap, Whom Beauty draws with fancy to be fed: And when Desire with eager looks is led, Then from her eyes The arrow flies, Feather'd with flame, arm'd with a golden head. There careless thoughts are freed of that flame Wherewith her thralls are scorched to the heart: If Love would so, would God the enchanting dart Might once return and burn from whence it came! Not to deface of Beauty's work the frame, But by rebound It might be found What secret smart I suffer by the same. If Love be just, then just is my desire; And if unjust, why is he call'd a God? O God, O God, O Just! reserve thy rod To chasten those that from thy laws retire! But choose aright (good Love! I thee require) The golden head, Not that of lead! Her heart is frost and must dissolve by fire.
W. Byrd sets stanza 1 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
W. Byrd sets stanza 2 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
W. Byrd sets stanza 3 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [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 William Byrd (1542?3? - 1623), "From Citheron the warlike boy is fled", published 1589, stanza 1 [SATT chorus a cappella], from the collection Songs of sundrie natures, no. 19. [text verified 1 time]
- by William Byrd (1542?3? - 1623), "There careless thoughts are freed", published 1589, stanza 2 [SATT chorus a cappella], from the collection Songs of sundrie natures, no. 20. [text verified 1 time]
- by William Byrd (1542?3? - 1623), "If Love be just", published 1589, stanza 3 [SATT chorus a cappella], from the collection Songs of sundrie natures, no. 21. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-08-09
Line count: 24
Word count: 169