Ianthe
General information
Lyricist: John Glanvill, c. 1705
Settings by composers
Texts and Translations
English text
Ianthe the lovely, the joy of her swain/the plain,
By Iphis was loved, and loved Iphis again:
She lived in the youth, and the youth in the fair,
Their pleasure was equal, and equal their care.
No delight, no enjoyment their dotage withdrew,
But the longer they lived still the fonder they grew.
A passion so happy alarmed all the plain,
Some envied the nymph, but more envied the swain;
Some swore 'twould be pity their love to invade,
That the lovers alone for each other were made;
But all, all consented that none ever knew
A nymph be more kind, or a shepherd so true.
Love saw them with pleasure and vowed to take care
Of the faithful, the tender, the innocent pair;
What either might want he bid either to move,
But they wanted nothing but ever to love;
He said all to bless them his godhead could do,
And they still should be kind and they still should be true.