O what shall I do? (John Wilbye)
Music files
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- CPDL #26065:
Capella
- Editor: James Gibb (submitted 2012-04-30). Score information: A4, 4 pages, 43 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: Reformatting of #10286. This edition transposed down a perfect 4th for SAB.
- CPDL #10286:
- Editor: Vince M. Brennan (submitted 2005-11-30). Score information: Letter, 6 pages, 65 kB 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 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes:
General Information
Title: O, what shall I do?
Composer: John Wilbye
Number of voices: 3vv Voicings: SAT or SAB
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.