A nymph and a swain (Congreve, set by J. Eccles) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


A nymph and a swain to Apollo once prayed,
The swain had been jilted, the nymph been betrayed.
Their intent was to try if his oracle knew
E'er a nymph that was chaste or a swain that was true.

Apollo was mute and had like t'have been pos'd,
But sagely at length he this secret disclosed:
He, alone won't betray in whom none will confide;
And the nymph may be chaste that has never been tried.

Authorship

William Congreve (1670-1729)

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

John Eccles (1668-1735)

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Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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