O heavy heart - Allison, Richard

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◈ Genre → Madrigals ♬ Voicing → SSAB ¶ Language → English

Parts 4

Instruments A cappella

Pages 11

CPDL # 69955

Editor Christopher Shaw

Posted 2022-07-11

License Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike

¶Lyrics / Text

O heavy heart, whose charms are hid, Thy help is hurt, thy hap is hard, If thou should'st break, as God forbid, Then should desert want his reward: Hope well to have, hate not sweet thought, Foul cruel storms fair calms have brought; After sharp show'rs the sun shines fair, Hope comes likewise after despair. In hope, a king doth go to war; In hope, a lover lives full long; In hope, a merchant sails full far; In hope, just men do suffer wrong; In hope, the ploughman sows his seed; Thus hope helps thousands at their need: Then faint not heart, among the rest, Whatever chance, hope thou the best. Though wit bids will to blow retreat, Will cannot work as wit would wish; When that the roach doth taste the bait, Too late to warn the hungry fish; When cities burn on fiery flame, Great rivers scarce may quench the same; If will and fancy be agreed, Too late for wit to bid take heed. But yet it seems a foolish drift, To follow will and leave the wit; The wanton horse that runs too swift May well be stay'd upon the bit; But check a horse amid his race, And out of doubt you mar his pace. Though wit and reason doth men teach Never to climb above their reach. I can no more but hope, good heart, For though the worst doth chance to fall, I know a while shall ease thy smart And turn to sweet thy sugar'd gall; When thy good will and painful suit Hath shak'd the tree and wants the fruit, Then keep thou patience well in store, That sovereign salve shall heal thy sore.