Sylvia, wilt thou waste thy time (Anonymous)

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  • (Posted 2022-07-11)  CPDL #69980:  Network.png
Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2022-07-11).   Score information: A4, 5 pages, 588 kB   Copyright: CC BY SA
Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download. The source quotes only verse 1; the two latter verses have been imported editorially from other similar song collections.

General Information

Title: Sylvia, wilt thou waste thy time
Composer: Anonymous
Lyricist: Torquato Tasso (trans. Wm. Ayre)create page
Number of voices: 1v   Voicing: Solo high
Genre: SecularAria

Language: English
Instruments: Basso continuo Flute obligato

First published: c.1755
Description: Published without attribution in "Amaryllis", London; a collection of "such songs as are most esteemed for composition and delicacy and sung at the Publick Theatres or Gardens". The piece looks very like the work of James Oswald.

External websites:

Original text and translations

English.png English text

Sylvia, wilt thou waste thy prime,
Stranger to the joys of love?
Thou hast youth, and that's the time
Ev'ry minute to improve.
Round thee wilt thou never hear
Little wanton girls and boys,
Sweetly sounding in thy ear
Infant prate and mother's joys.

Only view that little dove,
Softly cooing to its mate;
As a further proof of love,
See her for his kisses wait.
Hark! that charming nightingale,
As it flies from spray to spray,
Sweetly tune an am'rous tale,
"I love, I love", it strives to say.

Could I to thy soul reveal
But the least, the thousandth part,
Of those pleasures lovers feel,
In a mutual change of heart.
Then repenting, would'st thou say:
"Virgins' fears from hence remove;
All the time is thrown away
That we cannot spend in love".e