Farewell, Dear Love

Farewell, dear love, since thou wilt needs be gone
Mine eyes do show my life is almost gone
Nay, I will never die so long as I can spy.
There be many mo'tho' that she do go
There be many mo' I fear not
Why then let her go, I care not.

Farewell, farewell, since this I find is true
I will not spend more time in wooing you.
But I will seek elsewhere If I may find love there
Shall I bid her go? What and if I do?
Shall I bid her go and spare not?
Oh no no no, I dare not.

Ten thousand times farewell; yet stay awhile
Sweet, kiss me once; sweet kisses time beguile.
I have no pow'r to move. How now am I in love?
Wilt thou needs begone? Go then, all is one
Wilt thou needs begone? Oh hie thee!
Nay, stay, and do no more deny me.

Once more adieu, I see loath to depart
Bids oft adieu to her that holds my heart.
But seeing I must lose thy love, which I did choose,
Go thy way for me since that may not be.
Go, thy ways for me. But whither?
Go, of but where I may come thither.

What shall I do? My love is now departed
She is as fair as she is cruel-hearted.
But seeing I must lose thy love with prayers oft repeated
If she come no more, shall I die therefore?
If she come no more, what care I?
Faith, let her go, or come, or tarry!


From Songs From Shakespeare's Plays, Kines
Note: In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Act II Scene 3
Tune published in Jones "First Book of Songs and Ayres", 1600