Her gesture, motion, and her smiles,
Her wit, her voice my heart beguiles,
Beguiles my heart, I know not why,
And yet I love her till I die.

Cupid is wingàed and doth range,
Her country so my love doth change:
But change she earth, or change she sky,
Yet will I love her till I die.

80   Love not me for comely grace

John Wilbye’s Second Set of Madrigals, 1609

LOVE not me for comely grace,
For my pleasing eye or face,
Nor for any outward part,
No, nor for a constant heart:
    For these may fail or turn to ill,
    So thou and I shall sever:
Keep, therefore, a true woman’s eye,
And love me still but know not why—
    So hast thou the same reason still
    To doat upon me ever!

81   The Wakening

John Attye’s First Book of Airs, 1622

ON a time the amorous Silvy
Said to her shepherd, ‘Sweet, how do ye?
Kiss me this once and then God be wi’ ye,
        My sweetest dear!
Kiss me this once and then God be wi’ ye,
For now the morning draweth near.’

With that, her fairest bosom showing,
Op’ning her lips, rich perfumes blowing,
She said, ‘Now kiss me and be going,
        My sweetest dear!
Kiss me this once and then be going,
For now the morning draweth near.’

With that the shepherd waked from sleeping,
And spying where the day was peeping,
He said, ‘Now take my soul in keeping,
        My sweetest dear!
Kiss me and take my soul in keeping,
Since I must go, now day is near.’

  By PanEris using Melati.

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