Can I forget what Reason's force (Thomas Morley)

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Editor: Brian Russell (submitted 2008-02-19).   Score information: A4, 2 pages, 18 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Nwc.png

General Information

Title: Can I forget what Reason's force
Composer: Thomas Morley

Number of voices: 1v   Voicing: T

Genre: SecularPartsong

Language: English
Instruments: Lute

Published: 1600

Description: #9 from Morley's First Book of Ayres.

External websites:

Original text and translations

English.png English text

Can I forget what Reason's force
Imprinted in my heart?
Can I unthink these restless thoughts
When first I felt Love's dart?
Shall tongue recall what Thoughts and Love
By Reason once did speak?
No, no, all things save death wants force
that faithful band to break.

For now I prove no life to love
Where Fancy breeds content.
True love's reward with wise regard
Is never to repent;
It yields delight that feeds the sight
Whilst distance do them part.
Such food fed me when I did see
in mine another heart.

Another heart I spied, combin'd
Within my breast so fast,
As to a stranger I seem'd strange,
But Love forc'd love at last,
Yet was I not as then I seem'd
But rather wish to see
If in so full a harbour Love
might constant lodged be.

So Cupid plays oft nowadays
And makes the fool seem fair;
He dims the sight breding delight
Where we seem to despair.
So in our heart he makes them sport
And laughs at them that love.
Who for their pain gets this again
their love no liing move.