What poore Astronomers are they (John Dowland)
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- Editor: Marco-cipoo.net (submitted 2005-09-16). Score information: Letter, 3 pages Copyright: Personal
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- CPDL #9210: MIDI and Noteworthy Composer files available.
- Editor: Brian Russell (submitted 2005-08-30). Score information: Letter Copyright: Personal
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- Editor: Sara Manley (submitted 2004-12-03). Score information: Letter, 2 pages, 84 kbytes Copyright: Personal
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General Information
Title: What poore Astronomers are they
Composer: John Dowland
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Madrigal
Language: English
Instruments: a cappella
Published: No XX from The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires (1603)
Description:
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
- What poor astronomers are they
- take women's eyes for stars,
- and set their thoughts in battle 'ray,
- to fight such idle wars,
- when in the end they shall approve
- 'tis but a jest drawn out of love.
- And love itself is but a jest,
- devis'd by idle heads,
- to catch young fancies in the nest
- and lay it in fools' beds;
- that, being hatch'd in Beauty's eyes,
- they may be fledg'd ere they be wise.
- But yet it is a sport to see
- how wit will run on wheels,
- while will cannot persuaded be,
- with that which reason feels;
- that women's eyes and stars are odd,
- and Love is but a feigned god.
- But such as will run mad with will,
- I cannot clear their sight,
- but leave them to their study still,
- to look where is no light.
- 'Till them too late we make them try,
- they study false astronomy!
