William Lawes & Robert Herrick, 'Gather Ye Rosebuds while Ye May'

 

 

 

Gather ye rose-buds while ye may,

Old Time is still a-flying;

And this same flower that smiles today

Tomorrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,

The higher he’s a-getting,

The sooner will his race be run,

And nearer he’s to setting.

That age is best which is the first,

When youth and blood are warmer;

But being spent, the worse, and worst

Times still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time,

And while ye may, go marry;

For having lost but once your prime,

You may forever tarry.

 

Songs by John Dowland (NIVEL AVANZADO)

Quizá el mejor compositor de canciones hacia 1600 fuese John Dowland. Aquí "Flow My Tears," de su Second Book of Songs (1600).

 

Flow, my tears, fall from your springs! 

Exiled for ever, let me mourn; 

Where night's black bird her sad infamy sings, 

There let me live forlorn. 

Down vain lights, shine you no more! 

No nights are dark enough for those 

That in despair their lost fortunes deplore. 

Light doth but shame disclose. 

Never may my woes be relieved, 

Since pity is fled; 

And tears and sighs and groans my weary days 

Of all joys have deprived. 

From the highest spire of contentment 

My fortune…

 

 More songs by John Dowland:

Loreena McKennitt - Prospero's speech (from The Tempest)

Felices Navidades, y un Próspero:

To Althea, from Prison

A modern setting of Lovelace's song: