Five Jacobean Lyrics

Song Cycle by Roger Quilter (1877 - 1953)

1. The jealous lover
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
My dear mistress has a heart
Soft as those kind looks she gave me, 
When with love's resistless art,
And her eyes, she did enslave me.

But her constancy's so weak,
She's so wild, and apt to wander, 
That my jealous heart would break
Should we live one day asunder.

Melting joys about her move,
Killing pleasures, wounding blisses;
She can dress her eyes in love,
And her lips can warm with kisses.

Angels listen when she speaks;
She's my delight, all mankind's wonder;
But my jealous heart would break,
Should we live one day asunder.

Text Authorship:

Go to the general single-text view

Researcher for this page: David K. Smythe

2. Why so pale and wan?  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Why so pale and wan, fond lover?
  Prithee, why so pale?
Will, when looking well can't move her,
  Looking ill prevail?
  Prithee, why so pale?

Why so dull and mute, young sinner?
  Prithee, why so mute?
Will, when speaking well can't win her,
  Saying nothing [do't]1?
  Prithee, why so mute?

Quit, quit for shame, this will not move,
  This cannot take her;
If of herself she will not love,
  Nothing can make her;
  [The devil take her!]2

Text Authorship:

  • by John Suckling, Sir (1609 - 1642), no title, written 1637, Printed by John Haviland for Thomas Walkley, at the sign of the Flying Horse near York House, London, first published 1638

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Works in prose and Verse, by Sir John Suckling, Aglaura, Act IV, Scene 2, G. Routledge, London 1910, Page 115.

1 Stöhr: "do"
2 Britten: "Let who will take her!"

Research team for this page: Ted Perry , Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor] , Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor] , Johann Winkler

3. I dare not ask a kiss  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
I dare not ask a kiss,
    I dare not beg a smile,
Lest having that, or this,
    I might grow proud the while.

No, no, the utmost share
    Of my desire shall be
Only to kiss that air
    That lately kissed thee.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • GER German (Deutsch) [singable] (Bertram Kottmann) , "An Elektra", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Bertram Kottmann

4. To Althea, from prison
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
When Love with unconfined wings
  Hovers within my Gates;
And my divine Althea brings
  To whisper at the Grates:
When I lye tangled in her haire,
  And fetterd to her eye;
The Gods, that wanton in the Aire,
  Know no such Liberty.

When flowing Cups run swiftly round
  With no allaying Thames,
Our carelesse heads with Roses bound,
  Our hearts with Loyall Flames;
When thirsty griefe in Wine we steepe,
  When Healths and draughts go free,
Fishes that tipple in the Deepe,
  Know no such Libertie.

When (like committed Linnets) I
  With shriller throat shall sing
The sweetnes, Mercy, Majesty,
  And glories of my KING;
When I shall voyce aloud, how Good
  He is, how Great should be;
enlargèd Winds that curle the Flood,
  Know no such Liberty.

Stone Walls doe not a Prison make,
  Nor I'ron bars a Cage;
Mindes innocent and quiet take
  That for an Hermitage;
If I have freedome in my Love,
  And in my soule am free;
Angels alone that sore above,
  Injoy such Liberty.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

Researcher for this page: Ted Perry

5. The constant lover  
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Out upon it, I have loved
  Three whole days together!
And am like to love three more,
  If it prove fair weather.
 
Time shall moult away his wings
  Ere he shall discover
In the whole wide world again
  Such a constant lover.
 
But the spite on 't is, no praise
  Is due at all to me: 
Love with me had made no stays,
  Had it any been but she.
 
Had it any been but she,
  And that very face,
There had been at least ere this
  A dozen dozen in her place.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 479