The Flea (Maurice Greene)
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- Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2022-07-11). Score information: A4, 1 page, 86 kB Copyright: CC BY SA
- Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download.
General Information
Title: The Flea
Composer: Maurice Greene
Lyricist: Anonymous
Number of voices: 1v Voicing: Solo high
Genre: Secular, Aria
Language: English
Instruments: Keyboard
First published: 1746
Description: Probably performed at the London pleasure gardens. Included in "Calliope, or, English Harmony", a collection of such songs
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Little flea, why so blood-thirsty,
Thou'st drunk till it has almost burst ye;
Thou'rt now too full of pride, I warrant,
To stir a step on Strephon's errand.
Yet prithee, sweet sincere back-biter,
To Chloe go, that false delighter:
Go hide thyself within her bodice,
And make her own, she is no goddess.
Tell her, the shafts of Cupid's quiver
So from her eyes have pierc'd my liver;
And when she holds thee 'twixt her fingers,
Say thus your lovesick Strephon lingers.