by Charles Hanbury Williams, Sir, KB (1708 - 1759)
Ye fam'd physicians of this place
Language: English
Ye fam'd physicians of this place, Hear Strephon's and poor Chole's case. Nor think that I am joking; When she wou'd, he cannot comply, When he wou'd drink, she's not a-dry; And is not this provoking? At night, when Strephon comes to rest, Chloe receives him on her breast, With fondly-folding arms: Down, down he hangs his drooping head, Falls fast asleep, and lies as dead, Neglecting all her charms. Reviving when the morn returns, With rising flames young Strephon burns, And fain, wou'd fain be doing: But Chloe now, asleep or sick, Has no great relish for the trick, And sadly balks his wooing. O cruel and disast'rous case, When in the critical embrace That only one is burning! Dear doctors, set this matter right, Give Strephon spirits over night, Or Chloe in the morning.
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Text Authorship:
- by Charles Hanbury Williams, Sir, KB (1708 - 1759), "A lamentable case", subtitle: "Submitted to the Bath physicians" [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 Seymour Barab (1921 - 2014), "Strephon and Chloe" [ voice, violin, viola, and cello ], from Bawd Ballads, no. 7, Seesaw [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2012-02-10
Line count: 24
Word count: 136