Stay time a while thy flying (John Dowland)

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• CPDL #17163:     

Editor: David Fraser (submitted 2008-06-10).   Score information: A4, 2 pages, 102 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: SATB plus lute tablature (tenor G tuning)

General Information

Title: Stay time a while thy flying
Composer: John Dowland

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB

Genre: Secular, Lute song

Language: English
Instruments: Lute

{{Published}} is obsolete (code commented out), replaced with {{Pub}} for works and {{PubDatePlace}} for publications. A Pilgrimes Solace (1612), no. 7.

Description: May be performed by: solo voice (S/T) plus lute and (preferably) bass viol; SATB plus lute; S, 3 viols plus lute.

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Original text and translations

English text

Stay time a while thy flying,
Stay and pittie me dying.
For Fates and friends have left mee,
And of comfort bereft mee.
Come, come close mine eyes, better to dye blessed,
Then to live thus distressed.

To whom shall I complaine me,
When thus friends doe disdaine mee?
T’is time that must befriend me,
Drown’d in sorrow to end mee.
Come, come close mine eyes, better to dye blessed,
Then to live thus distressed.

Teares but augment this fewell,
I feede by night, (oh cruell)
Light griefes can speake their pleasure,
Mine are dumbe passing measure.
Quicke, quicke, close mine eyes, better to dye blessed,
Then here to live distressed.