Leave me, shepherd (John Stanley)
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- (Posted 2022-04-01) CPDL #68665:
- Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2022-04-01). Score information: A4, 1 page, 142 kB Copyright: CC BY SA
- Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download.
General Information
Title: Leave me, shepherd
Composer: John Stanley
Lyricist: Anonymous
Number of voices: 1v Voicing: solo high
Genre: Secular, Art song
Language: English
Instruments: Basso continuo
First published: 1746 Calliope, or, English Harmony
Description: Most probably composed for performance at the London pleasure gardens, particularly Vauxhall.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Leave me, shepherd, leave me,
Give o'er your artful wiles;
Ev'ry look deceives me,
And ev'ry word beguiles.
If I yield, you sure will fly,
I must repent and mourn:
Shepherd, 'tis too soon to try
What 'tis to be forlorn.
Why are you pursuing
To urge me to my fate,
To contrive my ruin,
And prove yourself ingrate?
If I yield, you sure will fly,
I must repent and mourn:
Still I can't forbear to try
What 'tis to be forlorn.
Joys which lovers borrow
Some few sweet moments make;
Years of grief and sorrow
They in exchange must take.
It is madness to be wise,
When Cupid bends his bow;
Ev'ry sense then open lies
To entertain the foe.