There is a lady sweet and kind

There is a lady sweet and kind,
Was never face so pleased my mind;
I did but see her passing by,
And yet [I]1 love her till I die.

Her gesture, motion and her [smiles]2,
Her wit, her voice, my heart [beguiles]3;
[Beguiles]3 my heart, I know not why,
And yet [I]1 love her till I die.

[ Had I her fast betwixt mine arms,
Judge you that think such sports were harms,
Were't any harm? No, no, fie, fie!
For I will love her till I die.

Should I remain confinèd there
So long as Phoebus in his sphere,
I to request, she to deny,
Yet would I love her till I die. ]4

[ Her free behavior, winning looks,
Will make a lawyer burn his books.
I touched her not alas not I,
And yet I'll love her till I die.]5

[ Cupid is winged and doth range
Her country so my love doth change;
But change she earth or change she sky,
Yet will I love her till I die.]6

by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , found on back of leaf 53 of Popish Kingdome or Reigne of Antichrist

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

by Garth Baxter (1946-) , "There is a lady sweet and kind" [voice and guitar or SATB], from Three madrigals, no. 1.
by Norman Dello Joio (1913-) , "There is a lady sweet and kind"
by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848-1918) , "And yet I love her till I die", 1903, published 1903, from English Lyrics, set 6 no. 2
by Edward Purcell (-1932) , "Passing by", 1875.
by Peter Warlock (1894-1930) [pseudonym] , "There is a lady sweet and kind", alternate title: "Passing by", 1919, published 1920.

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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