Alas! what hope of speeding

Settings by composers

• George Kirbye SATB or SSTB
• John Wilbye SATB

Text and translations

English text

Alas! what hope of speeding,
Where hope beguil'd lies bleeding?
She bade come, when she spy'd me,
And, when I came, she fly'd me.
Then, when I was beguilèd,
She at my sighing smilèd.
But if you take such pleasure
Of hope and joy, my treasure,
By deceit to bereave me,
Love me, and so deceive me.