Tell me, true Love (Anonymous, set by J. Dowland) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


Tell me, true Love,
Where shall I seek thy being?
In thoughts or words,
In vows or promise making?
In reasons, looks, or passions,
Or passions never seeing?
In men on earth
Or women's minds partaking?
Thou canst not die;
And therefore, living, tell me
Where is thy seat?
Why doth this age expel thee?

O fairest mind,
Enrich'd with Love's residing,
Retain the best,
In hearts let some seed fall;
Instead of weeds
Love's fruits may have abiding;
At harvest you shall reap
Increase of all.
O happy Love!
More happy man that finds thee!
Most happy Saint
That keeps, restores, unbinds thee!

Authorship

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)

John Dowland (1562-1626)

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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