The unfaithful shepherdess

While that the sun with his beams hot
Scorchèd the fruits in vale and mountain,
Philon, the shepherd, late forgot,
Sitting beside a crystal fountain,
  In shadow of a green oak tree,
  Upon his pipe this song play'd he:
Adieu, Love, adieu, Love, untrue Love,
Untrue Love, untrue Love, adieu, Love!
Your mind is light, soon lost for new love.

So long as I was in your sight
I was your heart, your soul, [and]1 treasure;
And evermore you sobb'd and sigh'd
Burning in flames beyond all measure:
  -- Three days endured your love to me
  And it was lost in other three!
Adieu, Love, adieu, Love, untrue Love,
Untrue Love, untrue Love, adieu, Love!
Your mind is light, soon lost for new love.

Another Shepherd you did see
To whom your heart was soon enchainèd;
Full soon your love was leapt from me,
Full soon my place he had obtainèd.
  Soon came a third your love to win,
  And we were out and he was in.
Adieu, Love, adieu, Love, untrue Love,
Untrue Love, untrue Love, adieu, Love;
Your mind is light, soon lost for new love.
  
Sure you have made me passing glad
That you your mind so soon removèd,
Before that I the leisure had
To choose you for my best belovèd:
  For all [your]2 love was past and done
  Two days before it was begun: --
Adieu, Love, adieu, Love, untrue Love,
Untrue Love, untrue Love, adieu, Love;
Your mind is light, soon lost for new love.

by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , "The unfaithful shepherdess"

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

by (Mary) Frances Allitsen, née Bumpus (1848-1912) , "Adieu! Love", published 1895 [voice and piano], London : Willcocks & Co.
by William Byrd (1542?3?-1623) , "While that the Sun", published 1589 [SATT chorus a cappella], in Songs of sundrie natures, no.23
by Roger Quilter (1877-1953) , "The faithless shepherdess", op. 12 no. 4, stanzas 1-2, from Seven Elizabethan Lyrics, no. 4.

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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