Were every thought an eye (John Dowland)
Music files
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- (Posted 2008-06-09) CPDL #17142:
- Editor: David Fraser (submitted 2008-06-09). Score information: A4, 3 pages, 120 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: SATB plus lute tablature (tenor G tuning)
General Information
Title: Were every thought an eye
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. 6
Description: May be performed by: solo voice (S/T) plus lute and (preferably) bass viol; SATB plus lute; S, 3 viols plus lute.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Were every thought an eye,
and all those eyes could see,
Her subtill wiles their sights would beguile,
and mocke their jelousie.
Her fires doe inward burne,
they make no outward show.
And her delights amid the dark shades,
which none discover, grow.
Desire lives in her heart,
Diana in her eyes.
T’were vaine to wish women true, t’is well,
if they prove wise.
The flowers growth is unseene,
yet every day it growes.
So where her fancy is set it thrives,
but how none knowes.
Such a Love deserves more grace,
Then a truer heart that hath no conceit,
To make use both of time and place,
When a wit hath need of all his sleight.