How cruelly fated is woman to woe (John Christopher Smith)
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- (Posted 2022-12-11) CPDL #71871:
- Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2022-12-11). Score information: A4, 2 pages, 193 kB Copyright: CC BY SA
- Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download.
General Information
Title: How cruelly fated is woman to woe
Composer: John Christopher Smith
Lyricist: David Garrick
Number of voices: 1v Voicing: solo high
Genre: Secular, Aria
Language: English
Instruments: Basso continuo
First published: c.1767 (n/d)
Description: "Sung by Miss Macklin in the Comedy of The Chances", a play adapted by Garrick from Beaumont & Fletcher.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
How cruelly fated is woman to woe;
Too weak to contend, still beset with the foe:
Tho' each wish we conceiv'd should be crown'd with success,
What would flow from these wishes but care and distress.
For love intervenes, and fancy's gay scenes
Alas! Are clouded all o'er:
The sun quits the skies, hope sickens and dies.
"Heigh ho", the heart says, "no more".
Tho' beauty and riches together conspire
To flatter our pride and fulfil each desire:
No beauties nor riches give peace to that breast
Which passion has tortur'd and grief has oppress'd.
For love intervenes, and fancy's gay scenes
Alas! Are clouded all o'er:
The sun quits the skies, hope sickens and dies.
"Heigh ho", the heart says, "no more".