Ye loves and ye graces so sweet (James Oswald)
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- (Posted 2023-10-04) CPDL #76038:
- Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2023-10-04). Score information: A4, 5 pages, 677 kB Copyright: CC BY SA
- Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download.
General Information
Title: Ye loves and ye graces so sweet
Composer: James Oswald
Lyricist: Samuel Wesley
Number of voices: 1v Voicing: solo high
Genre: Secular, Aria
Language: English
Instruments: Basso continuo, violin
First published: 1760
Description: Published with the title "A Song to a girl of ten years old". The text is by Samuel Wesley, the father to John and Charles Wesley.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Ye loves and ye graces so sweet,
That sport on the Tweed and the Tay,
Fly southward my Philly to meet;
She'll play with you all the long day.
Our turf is as verdant and soft,
Our prospect as beautiful springs;
The finches they trill it a-loft,
And melting the nightingale sings.
When heaven looks smiling above,
And Flora her treasure forth pours,
Does Philly abroad never rove?
Say, does she not pick a few flow'rs?
Does she find out the kingcup so gay?
Do cowslips their odours disclose;
Or the violet, sweeter than they,
That only can yield to the rose?
All nature does joyous appear,
And frolic's at Philly's command;
See flies, how they buzz at her ear,
And ladybirds dance on her hand;
See butterflies floating along
With colours to pleasure the fair;
The bees they fly humming a song,
And chirp goes the grasshopper there.
You two-legg'd unfeather'd folk sing;
Lay hold on the fast-flowing time;
Your smooth flowing madrigals bring,
Nor lose the soft hour of her prime.
Melodious, O chant while you may,
Your musical passions unfold;
For she'll be too wise for your lay
Before she is fifteen years old.