To ask for all thy love (John Dowland)
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- (Posted 2008-06-03) CPDL #17065:
- Editor: David Fraser (submitted 2008-06-03). Score information: A4, 2 pages, 101 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: SATB plus lute tablature (tenor G tuning)
General Information
Title: To aske for all thy love
Composer: John Dowland
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Lute song
Language: English
Instruments: Lute
First published: 1612 in A Pilgrimes Solace, no. 3
Description: May be performed by solo S or T plus lute and (preferably) bass viol; SATB plus lute; S, 3 viols plus lute.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
To aske for all thy love, and thy whole heart t’were madnesse,
I doe not sue,
nor can admit
(Fairest) from you
to have all, yet
who giveth all hath nothing to impart, but sadnesse.
He that receiveth all, can have no more then seeing.
My Love by length
of every houre,
Gathers new strength,
new growth, new flower.
You must have daily new rewards in store, still being.
You cannot every day give me your heart for merit:
Yet if you will,
when yours doth goe,
You shall have still
one to bestow:
For you shall mine when yours doth [hence de -] part inherit.
Yet if you please, Ile finde a better way, then change them:
For so alone
dearest we shall
Be one and one,
anothers all -
Let us so joyne our hearts that nothing may estrange them.