My heart and tongue were twins (John Dowland)

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  • (Posted 2008-07-02)  CPDL #17412:     
Editor: David Fraser (submitted 2008-07-02).   Score information: A4, 3 pages, 101 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: SATB plus lute tablature (7/8 course, tenor G tuning)

General Information

Title: My heart and tongue were twinnes
Composer: John Dowland

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: SecularLute song

Language: English
Instruments: Lute

First published: 1612 in A Pilgrimes Solace, no. 18
Description: May be performed: SATB plus lute; solo voice (S/T) plus lute and (preferably) bass viol; S, 3 viols plus lute.

External websites:

Original text and translations

English.png English text

My heart and tongue were twinnes, at once conceived,
Th’eldest was my heart, borne dumbe by destinie,
The last my tongue, of all sweet thoughts bereaved:
Yet strung and tunde to play hearts harmonie.

Both knit in one, and yet a sunder placed:
what heart would speake the tongue doth still discover.
What tongue doth speake is of the heart embraced,
and both are one to make a new found Lover.

New found, and onely found in Gods and Kings,
whose wordes are deedes, but wordes, nor deedes regarded.
Chaste thoughts doe mount and flye with swiftest wings,
my love with paine, my paine with losse rewarded.

Then this be sure, since it is true perfection,
That neyther men nor Gods can force affection.