Love Not Me for Comely Grace

Wilbye, John (1574 - 1638)

Original Text

John Wilbye, The second set of madrigales (1609); facs. edn. (Amsterdam: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, 1973). M Z W68M41609a Music Library.

1Love not me for comely grace,

2For my pleasing eye or face;

3Nor for any outward part,

4No, nor for my constant heart:

5 For those may fail or turn to ill,

6 So thou and I shall sever.

7Keep therefore a true woman's eye,

8And love me still, but know not why;

9 So hast thou the same reason still

10 To doat upon me ever.

Publication Start Year

1609

RPO poem Editors

N. J. Endicott

RPO Edition

2RP.1.238; RPO 1996-2000.

Rhyme