Can she excuse my wrongs (John Dowland)

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• CPDL #17859:

Editor: David Newman (submitted 2008-08-21).   Score information: Letter, 2 pages, 125 kbytes   Copyright: Public Domain

Edition notes: Edition is in D Minor with lute tabulature.

• CPDL #10957: NoteWorthy Composer

Editor: Brian Russell (submitted 2006-02-09).   Score information: A4, 4 pages, 27 kbytes   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: NoteWorthy Composer file may be viewed and printed with NoteWorthy Composer Viewer.

• CPDL #08458:

Editor: Chandra Maeder (submitted 2004-11-01).   Score information: Letter, 2 pages, 69 kbytes   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Previously hosted on external site. Uploaded to CPDL server 2007-11-23.

• CPDL #05472: PDF, MIDI and Capella 4 files available.

Editor: Ulrich Alpers (submitted 2003-08-18).   Score information: A4, 2 pages, 51 kbytes   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

• CPDL #01527: PDF, MIDI and ABC files available.

Editor: Laura Conrad (submitted 2000-10-23).   Score information: Letter, 8 pages, 467 kbytes   Copyright: GnuGPL

Edition notes: in partbook format.

General Information

Title: Can she excuse my wrongs
Composer: John Dowland

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Lute song

Language: English
Instruments: Lute
Published: 1597

Description: No V from First Booke of Songs or Ayres (1597)

External websites:

• Entry at the "Lied and Art Song Texts Page". *Live performance of this work by the dwsChorale

Original text and translations

English text

Can she excuse my wrongs with virtue’s cloak?

shall I call her good when she proves unkind?

Are those clear fires which vanish into smoke?

must I praise the leaves where no fruit I find?

No, no: where shadows do for bodies stand,

thou may’st be abused if thy sight be dim.

Cold love is like to words written on sand,

or to bubbles which on the water swim.

Wilt thou be thus abused still,

seeing that she will right thee never?

if thou canst not overcome her will,

thy love will be thus fruitless ever.

Was I so base, that I might not aspire

Unto those high joys which she holds from me?

As they are high, so high is my desire:

If she this deny what can granted be?

If she will yield to that which reason is,

It is reasons will that love should be just.

Dear make me happy still by granting this,

Or cut off delays if that I die must.

Better a thousand times to die,

then for to live thus still tormented:

Dear but remember it was I

Who for thy sake did die contented.

French translation

Peut-elle mes maux excuser par le manteau de la vertu?

Puis-je l’appeler bonne quand elle se montre dure?

Est-ce que ce sont des feux clairs qui disparaissent en fumée?

Dois-je louer les feuilles, là où je ne trouve aucun fruit?

Non, non : là où les ombres remplacent les corps,

Tu peux être trompé si ta vue est faible

L'amour froid est comme des mots écrits sur le sable,

ou des bulles qui nagent sur l'eau.

Seras-tu encore trompé plus longtemps

voyant qu'elle ne te rendra jamais justice?

si tu ne peux pas surmonter sa volonté

Ton amour sera ainsi stérile à jamais.

Étais-je si vil, que je ne puisse aspirer

À ces joies élevées qu'elle tient éloignées de moi?

Car aussi hauts soient-elles, ainsi en est-il de mon désir

Si elle refuse ceci, que peut-il être admis?

Si elle cède devant ceci qui est la raison,

C’est la volonté de la raison que l’amour fût juste.

(Ma) Chère, rends-moi heureux en m’accordant ceci,

Ou supprime toute attente si je dois mourir.

Il vaut mieux en mourir mille fois

Plutôt que de vivre ainsi torturé :

(Ma) Chère souviens-toi que c’était moi

Par égard pour toi, qui mourus contenté.

German translation
Übersetzung: Peter Rottländer