O, what shall I do? (John Wilbye)

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• CPDL #10286:

Editor: Vince M. Brennan (submitted 2005-11-30).   Score information: Letter, 6 pages, 65 kbytes   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Copyright (c) 2004 by V. M. Brennan

• CPDL #09302: NoteWorthy Composer

Editor: Brian Russell (submitted 2005-08-30).   Score information: A4, 4 pages, 42 kbytes   Copyright: Personal

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

General Information

Title: O, what shall I do?
Composer: John Wilbye

Number of voices: 3vv   Voicing: SAT
Genre: Secular, Madrigal

Language: English
Instruments: a cappella
Published: 1609

Description: No.6 from The 2nd Set of Madrigals

External websites:

Original text and translations

English text

O, what shall I do, or whither shall I turn me?
Shall I make unto her eyes?
O, no, they'll burn me!
Shall I seal up my eyes and speak my part?
Then in a flood of tears I drown my heart,
for tears being stopped will swell for scope,
though they overflow love, life and hope,
by Beauty's eye I'll choose to die.
At thy feet I fall, fair creature rich in beauty,
and for pity call, O kill not love and duty.
Let thy smooth tongue fan on my sense thy breath,
to stay thine eyes from burning me to death.
But if mercy be exiled from a thing so fair compiled,
then patiently by thee I'll die.