by Philip Rosseter (1567?8 - 1623)
And would you fain the reason know
Language: English
And would you fain the reason know, Why my sad eyes so often flow ? My heart ebbs joy, when they do so, And loves the moon by whom they go. And will you ask, "Why pale I look?" 'Tis not with poring on my book : My mistress' cheek, my blood hath took, For her, mine own hath me forsook. Do not demand, "Why I am mute?" Love's silence doth all speech confute. They set the note, then tune the lute ; Hearts frame their thoughts, then tongues their suit. Do not admire, "Why I admire?" My fever is no other's fire : Each several heart hath his desire ; Else proof is false, and truth a liar. If why I love you should see cause! Love should have form like other laws, But Fancy pleads not by the clause : 'Tis as the sea, still vext with flaws. No fault upon my love espy : For you perceive not with my eye ; My palate, to your taste may lie, Yet please itself deliciously. Then let my sufferance be mine own : Sufficeth it these reasons shown : Reason and love are ever known To fight till both be overthrown.
Text Authorship:
- by Philip Rosseter (1567?8 - 1623) [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 John Jeffreys (1927 - 2010), "And would you fain the reason know" [tenor and bassoon], from With Words of Love, no. 4. [text not verified]
- by Philip Rosseter (1567?8 - 1623), "And would you fain the reason know" [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-09-08
Line count: 28
Word count: 193