A Madrigal (Dobson, set by H. Howells) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


Before me, careless, lying,
Young Love his wares came crying.
Full soon the elf untreasures
His pack of pains and pleasures;
With roguish eye,
He bids me buy
From out his pack of treasures.

His wallet's stuffed with blisses,
With true-love knots and kisses,
With rings and rosy fetters,
And sugar'd vows and letters.
He holds them out
With boyish flout,
And bids me try the fetters.

"Nay, child," I cry, "I know them;
There's little need to shew them!
Too well for new believing
I know their old deceiving,
I am too old,"
I say, "and cold,
Today, for new believing"!

But still the wanton presses,
With honey-sweet caresses,
And still, to my undoing,
He wins me with his wooing,
To buy his ware
With all its care,
It's sorrow and undoing.

Input by Virginia Knight

Authorship

(Henry) Austin Dobson (1840-1921)

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

Herbert Norman Howells (1892-1983)

Four Songs

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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