Tell me, o love
Alfonso Ferrabosco
Shepherd:
Tell me, o love, when shall it be
That thy fair eyes shall shine on me,
Whom nothing now reviveth?
Nymph:
I pray thee, shepherd, leave thy fears;
Drown not thy heart and eyes with tears;
Such sighs my sense depriveth.
Shepherd:
Alas, sweet nymph, I cannot choose,
Since thou estranged liv'st from me.
Nymph:
O do not me for that accuse,
My love, my life doth live in thee.
Both:
Alas, what joy is in such love
Shepherd:
That ever lives apart,
Nymph:
And never other comforts prove
But cares that kill the heart?
Shepherd:
O let me die!
Nymph:
And so will I!
Both:
Yet stay, sweet love, and sing this song with me:
Time brings to pass what Love thinks could not be.