Now cease my wand'ring eyes (John Dowland)

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  • (Posted 2017-02-19)  CPDL #43196:         
Editor: James Gibb (submitted 2017-02-19).   Score information: A4, 3 pages, 53 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Reformatting of #16802, with corrections to underlay.
  • (Posted 2008-05-06)  CPDL #16802:         
Editor: Brian Russell (submitted 2008-05-06).   Score information: A4, 3 pages, 23 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: NoteWorthy Composer file may be viewed and printed with NoteWorthy Composer Viewer.
Error.gif Possible error(s) identified. See the discussion page for full description.
  • (Posted 2006-06-13)  CPDL #11870:        (Finale 2006)
Editor: Daniel Harmer (submitted 2006-06-13).   Score information: Letter, 3 pages, 53 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Now cease my wandring eyes
Composer: John Dowland

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: SecularMadrigal

Language: English
Instruments: Lute (optional)

First published: 1600 in The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres, no. 13
Description: 

External websites:

Original text and translations

English.png English text


Now cease my wand'ring eyes,
Strange beauties to admire,
In change least comfort lies,
Long joys yield long desire.

One faith one love,
Makes our frail pleasures eternal, and in sweetness prove,
New hopes new joys,
Are still with sorrow declining unto deep annoys.


One man hath but one soul,
Which art cannot divide,
If all one soul must love,
Two loves must be denied.

One soul, one love,
By faith and merit united cannot remove,
Distracted sprites
Are ever changing and hapless in their delights.


Nature two eyes hath giv'n,
All beauty to impart,
As well in earth as heav'n,
But she hath giv'n one heart.

That though we see
Ten thousand beauties, yet in us, in us one should be,
One steadfast love,
Because our hearts stand fix'd although our eyes do move.