A silly sylvan

Settings by composers

• Orlando Gibbons SSATB
• John Wilbye SSATB

Text and translations

English text

1  A silly sylvan, kissing heav'n-born fire,
Scorchèd his lips for his so fond desire:
I, not so fond, but gazed whilst such fire burned,
And all my heart straight into flames was turned.

2  The sylvan justly suffered for his kiss,
His fire was stol'n, and stol'n things go amiss;
But I, alas! unjustly; for to have her,
Her heav'nly fire the Gods and Graces gave her.