Henry Lawes - Go Lovely Rose

A song by Edmund Waller, set by Henry Lawes

         Go, lovely Rose!

Tell her, that wastes her time and me,

         That now she knows

When I resemble her to thee,

How sweet and fair she seems to be.

         Tell her that's young

And shuns to have her graces spied,

         That hadst thou sprung

In deserts, where no men abide,

Thou must have uncommended died.

         Small is the worth

Of beauty from the light retired:

         Bid her come forth,

Suffer herself to be desired,

And not blush to be so admired.

         Then die! that she

The common fate of all things rare

         May read in thee:

How small a part of time they share

                                  That are so wondrous sweet and fair!

 —oOo—