To an Inconstant Lover (Anonymous, set by C. Coleman) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


Wilt thou be gone, thou heartless man?
Here's none seeks to do thee wrong. 
Here's food would warm the coldest blood,
Joys would make an old man young.
Here are eyes that would move
Stones to pity, rocks to Iove,
Cheeks of a vermillion hue
Sweet as roses in a dew. 
Who but a silly swain or foolish guest 
For homely cates would leave so dainty a feast? 

Wilt thou be gone, thou frosty man?
Is not beauty a fair prize? 
Dost rate thy pelf with true love's wealth?
Foolish man, where are thine eyes?
Here are lips both fresh and fair,
Red as cherries in their prime, 
Globe-like breasts, both smooth and white,
Full of pleasure and delight. 
Who but an ass woulid leave such dainty a store,
To feed on thistles when better meat's before? 

Go get thee gone, thou senseless man,
And make marts with such as she 
Who both in kind and currish mind
Ev'ry way's as base as thee; 
That hath eyelids like some witch,
Wrinkled cheeks as black as pitch,
Lips as pale, and for her breasts,
Lank and loathsome as the rest. 
May she disgrace her sex and thee so far 
That thou may'st languish to death with loathing her.

Input by John Versmoren

Authorship

Anonymous/Unidentified Artist

^th

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

Charles Coleman (c1605-1664)

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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