The Inconstant (Cowley) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


I never yet could see that face
Which had no dart for me;
From fifteen years to fifties space,
They all victorious be.
Love thou'rt a Devil; if I may call thee One,
For sure in Me thy name is Legion.

Colour, or Shape, good Limbs, or Face,
Goodness, or wit in all I find.
In Motion or in Speech a grace,
If all fail, yet 'tis Woman-kind;
And I'm so weak, the Pistol need not be
Double, or treble charg'd to murder Me.

If Tall, the Name of Proper slays;
If fair, she's pleasant as the light;
If low, her Prettiness does please;
If Black, what Lover loves not Night?
If Yellow-hair'd, I Love, lest it should be
Th' excuse to others for not loving me.

Authorship

Abraham Cowley (1618-1667)

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

[ None yet in the database ]

Set in German, adapted by Josef Franz von Ratschky (1757-1810) DUT GER

Franz Peter Schubert (1797-1828)

Date added to the website: 2003-11-05.

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