Welcome black night (John Dowland)
Music files
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- Editor: David Fraser (submitted 2008-07-07). Score information: A4, 3 pages, 129 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: SATTB plus lute tablature (8-course, tenor G tuning)
General Information
Title: Welcome black night
Composer: John Dowland
Number of voices: 5vv Voicing: SATTB, verses for single voice & lute
Genre: Secular, Lute song
Language: English
Instruments: Lute
First published: 1612 in A Pilgrimes Solace, no. 20
Description:
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Welcome black night, Hymens faire day,
help Hymen Loves due debt to pay,
Loves due debt is chaste delight,
which if the turtles want to night,
Hymen forfets his Dietie,
and night in love her dignitie.
Help, help blacke night Hymens faire day,
Help Hymen Loves due debt to pay.
Chorus
Hymen, O Hymen, myne of treasures more divine,
what dietie is like to thee that freest from mortalitie?
Stay (happy paire) stay but a while,
Hymen comes not, love to beguile,
These sports are alluring baites,
And sawce are to Loves sweetest Cates:
Longing hope doth no hurt but this,
It heightens Loves attained blisse.
Then stay (most happie) stay a while,
Hymen comes not, Love to beguile.