I seek my shepherd gone astray - Arne, Thomas

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⌛ Period → Baroque ◈ Genre → Arias ♬ Voicing → solo high ¶ Language → English

Parts 1

Instruments Basso continuo, violin

Pages 3

CPDL # 82647

Editor Christopher Shaw

Posted 2024-11-06

License Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike

¶Lyrics / Text

I seek my shepherd gone astray, He left our cot the other day; Tell me, ye gentle nymphs and swains, Pass'd the dear rebel through your plains? Oh! whither, whither must I roam, To find and charm the wand'rer home? Sports he upon the sheaven green, Or joys he in the mountain scene; Leads his flocks along the mead, Or does he seek the cooler shade? Oh! teach a wretched nymph the way To find her lover gone astray. To paint, ye nymphs, my truant swain: A manly softness crowns his mien; Adonis was not half so fair, And when he talks, 'tis heav'n to hear. But Oh! the soothing poison shun; To listen is to be undone. He'll swear no time will quench his flame: To me the perjur'd swore the same; Too fondly loving to be wise, Who gave my heart, an easy prize; And, when he tun'd his siren voice, Listen'd, and was undone by choice. But sated now, he shuns the kiss He courted once, his greatest bliss; Whilst I with fiercer passions burn, And pant and die for his return. Oh! whither, whither shall I rove, Again to find my straying love?