Come, come away, Or let me go; Must I here stay Because y'are slow, And will continue so? Troth, lady, no. I scorn to be A slave to state: And, since I'm free, I will not wait Henceforth at such a rate For needy fate. If you desire My spark should glow, The peeping fire You must blow, Or I shall quickly grow To frost or snow.
Four Songs from Herrick's 'Hesperides'
Song Cycle by Geoffrey Bush (1920 - 1998)
1. The Impatient Lover  [sung text not yet checked]
Authorship:
- by Robert Herrick (1591 - 1674), "Upon a delaying lady", appears in The Hesperides, no. 340
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Confirmed with Robert Herrick, The Hesperides and Noble Numbers Edited by Alfred Pollard. London 1898
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]
2. Upon the Loss of his Mistresses  [sung text not yet checked]
I have lost, and lately, these Many dainty mistresses: Stately Julia, prime of all: Sappho next, a principal: Smooth Anthea for a skin White, and heaven-like crystalline: Sweet Electra, and the choice Myrrha for the lute and voice: Next Corinna, for her wit, And the graceful use of it: With Perilla: all are gone; Only Herrick's left alone For to number sorrow by Their departures hence, and die.
Authorship:
- by Robert Herrick (1591 - 1674), "Upon the Loss of his Mistresses", appears in The Hesperides, no. 39
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Confirmed with Robert Herrick, The Hesperides and Noble Numbers Edited by Alfred Pollard. London 1898
Researcher for this page: Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]
3. To Electra  [sung text not yet checked]
More white than whitest lilies far, Or snow, or whitest swans you are : More white than are the whitest creams, Or moonlight tinselling the streams : More white than pearls, or Juno's thigh, Or Pelops' arm of ivory. True, I confess, such whites as these May me delight, not fully please ; Till like Ixion's cloud you be White, warm, and soft to lie with me.
Authorship:
- by Robert Herrick (1591 - 1674), "To Electra (I)", appears in The Hesperides, no. 105
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Confirmed with Robert Herrick, The Hesperides and Noble Numbers Edited by Alfred Pollard. London 1898
Research team for this page: Bertram Kottmann , Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]
4. Upon Julia's Clothes  [sung text not yet checked]
Whenas in silks my Julia goes, Then, then (methinks) [how]1 sweetly flows That liquefaction of her clothes. Next, when I cast mine eyes, and see That brave vibration each way free, O how that glittering taketh me!
Authorship:
- by Robert Herrick (1591 - 1674), "Upon Julia's clothes"
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View original text (without footnotes)1 Still: "more"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]