What if a day - Allison, Richard

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

Parts 5

Instruments A cappella

Pages 5

CPDL # 69217

Editor Christopher Shaw

Posted 2022-05-14

License Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike

¶Lyrics / Text

What if a day, or a month, or a year Crown thy desire with a thousand sweet contentings; Cannot the chance of a night or an hour Cross thy delight with as many sad tormentings? Fortune, honour, beauty, youth, Are but blossoms dying; Wanton pleasures, doting love, Are but shadows flying. All our joys are but toys, Idle thoughts deceiving. None have pow'r of an hour In their lives' bereaving. Earth's but a point to the world; and a man Is but a point to the earth's compared censure. Shall then a point of a point be so vain As to triumph in a silly point's adventure? All is hazard that we have, There is nothing biding; Days of pleasure are like streams Through fair meadows gliding. Weal and woe, time doth go, Time is never turning. Secret fates guide our states Both in mirth and mourning.