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From the upcoming release, Unquiet Thoughts: English Lute Songs 1597 - 1612.
This is the title of the opening song in John Dowland's First Booke of Songes or Ayres, published in 1597.
This is the title of the opening song in John Dowland's First Booke of Songes or Ayres, published in 1597.
lyrics
Original text
Unquiet thoughts your civill slaughter stint,
And wrap your wrongs within a pensive heart:
And you my tongue that maks my mouth a minte,
And stamps my thoughts to coyne them words by arte:
Be still for if you ever doo the like,
Ile cut the string, that maks the hammer strike.
But what can staie my thoughts they may not start,
Or put my tongue in durance for to dye?
When as these eies the keyes of mouth and harte
Open the locke where all my love doth lye;
Ile seale them up within their lids for ever,
So thoughts and words, and looks shall dye together.
How shall I then gaze on my mistresse eies?
My thoughts must have som vent els hart wil break,
My tongue would rust as in my mouth it lies
If eyes and thoughts were free and that not speake.
Speake then and tell the passions of desire
Which turns mine eies to floods, my thoghts to fire.
Paraphrase by David Hill
You disturbing, rebellious thoughts that fight and kill inside my head: cease, for I must keep the wrongs (that have been done to me) in my heart, and consider them. And you, my tongue, who mints words out of my thoughts in my mouth, by giving voice to them, just as a coiner stamps blank metal into coins, you must be silent. But if you cannot be still, I must cut the string that controls your ‘minting’.
But what can stop these thoughts which have put my tongue under sentence of death? My eyes (which are the keys to the locks of my mouth and my heart), open both, revealing my unrequited longing to my mistress. Perhaps I should therefore seal up my eyes (rather than punish my tongue), so that my thoughts, words and looks are all killed at the same time, by being withheld from her?
But, if I were blinded, how could I then gaze at my mistress’ eyes? I must have some release for my thoughts, or my heart will break. My tongue would simply seize up, whilst it lies in my mouth, were I not able use my voice when my eyes and thoughts remained free and uncontrolled. Therefore I’ll be brave. I’ll speak to my mistress, and explain to her my passionate and painful desire, which causes my eyes to weep floods, and my thoughts to burn like fire.
Unquiet thoughts your civill slaughter stint,
And wrap your wrongs within a pensive heart:
And you my tongue that maks my mouth a minte,
And stamps my thoughts to coyne them words by arte:
Be still for if you ever doo the like,
Ile cut the string, that maks the hammer strike.
But what can staie my thoughts they may not start,
Or put my tongue in durance for to dye?
When as these eies the keyes of mouth and harte
Open the locke where all my love doth lye;
Ile seale them up within their lids for ever,
So thoughts and words, and looks shall dye together.
How shall I then gaze on my mistresse eies?
My thoughts must have som vent els hart wil break,
My tongue would rust as in my mouth it lies
If eyes and thoughts were free and that not speake.
Speake then and tell the passions of desire
Which turns mine eies to floods, my thoghts to fire.
Paraphrase by David Hill
You disturbing, rebellious thoughts that fight and kill inside my head: cease, for I must keep the wrongs (that have been done to me) in my heart, and consider them. And you, my tongue, who mints words out of my thoughts in my mouth, by giving voice to them, just as a coiner stamps blank metal into coins, you must be silent. But if you cannot be still, I must cut the string that controls your ‘minting’.
But what can stop these thoughts which have put my tongue under sentence of death? My eyes (which are the keys to the locks of my mouth and my heart), open both, revealing my unrequited longing to my mistress. Perhaps I should therefore seal up my eyes (rather than punish my tongue), so that my thoughts, words and looks are all killed at the same time, by being withheld from her?
But, if I were blinded, how could I then gaze at my mistress’ eyes? I must have some release for my thoughts, or my heart will break. My tongue would simply seize up, whilst it lies in my mouth, were I not able use my voice when my eyes and thoughts remained free and uncontrolled. Therefore I’ll be brave. I’ll speak to my mistress, and explain to her my passionate and painful desire, which causes my eyes to weep floods, and my thoughts to burn like fire.
credits
from Singles,
track released November 13, 2020
Donna Stewart, voice and Ron Andrico, lute
Recorded by Chris Ebbert at the Lava Room
Bass lute in D by Sandi Harris & Stephen Barber
Donna Stewart, voice and Ron Andrico, lute
Recorded by Chris Ebbert at the Lava Room
Bass lute in D by Sandi Harris & Stephen Barber
license
all rights reserved
tags
about
Mignarda Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Mignarda specializes in thoughtful programming illuminating the vibrant mingling of renaissance music & poetry. Noted for awakening modern audiences to an appreciation for historical music, their work encompasses concertizing, teaching & recording, with 17 critically-acclaimed CDs, a series of 16 music editions, scholarly articles, reviews and the internationally-popular blog, Unquiet Thoughts. ... more
discography
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Jun 2022 -
Sep 2021 -
Apr 2021 -
Nov 2020
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