I saw my lady weep (John Dowland)

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• CPDL #17893: 

Editor: David Fraser (submitted 2008-08-11).   Score information: A4, 2 pages, 91 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: SB plus lute tablature (7-course, tenor G tuning)

• CPDL #15997:  NoteWorthy Composer

Editor: Brian Russell (submitted 2008-02-15).   Score information: A4, 2 pages, 20 kB   Copyright: CPDL

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

• CPDL #02040:  PDF, MIDI and LilyPond files

Editor: Laura Conrad (submitted 2001-01-31).   Score information: A4, 2 pages, 60 kB   Copyright: GnuGPL

Edition notes: partbook format, vocal parts, no lute part.

General Information

Title: I saw my lady weepe
Composer: John Dowland

Number of voices: 2vv   Voicing: SB

Genre: Secular, Lute song

Language: English
Instruments: Lute

Published: No I from Second Book of Songs or Ayres (1600)

Description:

External websites:

• Performance of the original lute song (classical guitar and alto voice)

Original text and translations

English text

I saw my lady weep,
And Sorrow proud to be advanced so,
In those fair eyes where all perfections keep,
Her face was full of woe;
But such a woe (believe me) as wins more hearts,
Than Mirth can do with her enticing parts.

Sorrow was there made fair,
And Passion wise, tears a delightful thing,
Silence beyond all speech a wisdom rare,
She made her sighs to sing,
And all things with so sweet a sadness move,
As made my heart at once both grieve and love.

O fairer than aught else,
The world can show, leave off in time to grieve,
Enough, enough, your joyful looks excels,
Tears kills the heart.
O strive not to be excellent in woe,
Which only breeds your beauty's overthrow.