Rosalind's Madrigal
Rosalind's Madrigal
From "Rosalind"
Original Text
Thomas Lodge, Rosalynde. Euphues golden legacie (London: T. Orwin for T. G., 1590). STC 16664.
2 Doth suck his sweet;
3Now with his wings he plays with me,
4 Now with his feet.
5Within mine eyes he makes his nest,
6His bed amidst my tender breast;
7My kisses are his daily feast,
8And yet he robs me of my rest.
9 Ah, wanton, will ye?
10And if I sleep, then percheth he
11 With pretty flight,
12And makes his pillow of my knee,
13 The livelong night.
14Strike I my lute, he tunes the string;
15He music plays if so I sing;
16He lends me every lovely thing;
17Yet cruel he my heart doth sting--
18 Whist, wanton, still ye!
19Else I with roses every day
20 Will whip you hence,
21And bind you, when you long to play,
22 For your offence.
23I'll shut my eyes to keep you in,
24I'll make you fast it for your sin,
25I'll count your power not worth a pin;
26Alas! what hereby shall I win
27 If he gainsay me?
28What if I beat the wanton boy
29 With many a rod?
30He will repay me with annoy,
31 Because a god.
32Then sit thou safely on my knee,
33And let thy bower my bosom be;
34Lurk in mine eyes, I like of thee.
35Cupid! so thou pity me,
36 O Spare not, but play thee.
Notes
1] From the work from which Shakespeare drew the plot of As You Like It. The madrigal is sung by Rosalind just after admitting to herself her love for the hero, Rosader. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1590
RPO poem Editors
N. J. Endicott
RPO Edition
2RP.1.183; RPO 1996-2000.
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