by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Translation by Helen Jane Waddell (1889 - 1965)
Dic quid agis, formosa Venus, si nescis...
Language: Latin
Dic quid agis, formosa Venus, si nescis amanti ferre vicem? perit omne decus, dum deperit aetas. marcent post rorem violae, rosa perdit odorem, lilia post vernum posito candore liquescunt. haec metuas exempla precor, et semper amanti redde vicem, quia semper amat, qui semper amatur.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text 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):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by Helen Jane Waddell (1889 - 1965) , appears in Medieval Latin Lyrics, Codex Salmasianus , first published 1929 ; composed by Jean Coulthard.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-10-27
Line count: 6
Word count: 44
O lovely Venus
Language: English after the Latin
Lovely Venus, what's to do If the loved loves not again? Beauty passes, youth's undone, Violets wither, 'spite of dew, Roses shrivel in the sun, Lilies all their whiteness stain. O lovely lady, take these home to you And who loves thee, love again.
Text Authorship:
- by Helen Jane Waddell (1889 - 1965), appears in Medieval Latin Lyrics, Codex Salmasianus , first published 1929 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Latin by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Jean Coulthard (1908 - 2000), "O lovely Venus", 1962 [ baritone and piano ], from Six Mediæval Love Songs, no. 6 [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-10-27
Line count: 8
Word count: 44