Can she excuse my wrongs - John Dowland

Lyrics 1


Can she excuse my wrongs with virtues cloak?

Shall I call her good when she proves unkind?

No, no, where shadows do, where bodies stand,

thou may'st be abus'd if thy sight be dim


Wilt thou be thus abused still,

seeing that she will right thee

never if thou canst not or come her will,

thy love will be thus fruitless ever.


Lyrics 2


Are those clear fires which vanish into smoke?

Must I praise the leaves where no fruit I find?

Cold love is like two words written on sand,

or two bubbles which on the water swim.


Wilt thou be thus abused still,

seeing that she will right thee

never if thou canst not or come her will,

thy love will be thus fruitless ever


Lyrics 3


Was I so base that I might not aspire

Onto those high joys which she holds from me,

As they are high so high is my desire,

If she this denies what can granted be.


If she yield to that which reason is,

It is reason will that love should be just,

Dear make me happy still by granting these

Or cut all delays if that die I must


Better a thousand times to die

Than for to live thus still tormented,

Dear but remember it was I

Who for thy fake did die contented.