Soft skin, unconstant heart

Thomas Ford (c1580 - sepolto il 17 novembre 1648): Now I see thy looks were feigned, madrigale a 4 voci (pubblicato in Musicke of Sundrie Kindes, 1607, vol. I, n. 4). Elisabeth Frèrebeau, Emma Spinelli e Tom Mébarki.

Now I see thy looks were feigned,
Quickly lost and quickly gained.
Soft thy skin like wool of wethers,
Heart unconstant, light as feathers.
Tongue untrusty, subtle-sighted,
Wanton will with change delighted.

Siren pleasant, foe to reason,
Cupid plague thee for thy treason.

Of thine eye I made my mirror,
From thy beauty came my error;
All thy words I counted witty,
All thy sighs I deemed pity;
Thy false tears that me aggrieved
First of all my trust deceived.

Siren pleasant…

Feign’d acceptance when I asked,
Lovely words with cunning masked,
Holy vows but heart unholy
Wretched man! my trust was folly.
Lily-white and pretty winking,
Solemn vows, but sorry thinking.

Siren pleasant…

Now I see, O seemly cruel,
Others warm them at my fuel.
Wit shall guide me in this durance
Since in love is no assurance.
Change thy pasture, take thy pleasure,
Beauty is a fading treasure.

Siren pleasant…

Prime youth lasts not, age will follow,
And make white those tresses yellow;
Wrinkled face for looks delightful
Shall acquaint the dame despiteful;
And when time shall date thy glory
Then too late thou wilt be sorry.

Siren pleasant, foe to reason,
Cupid plague thee for thy treason.

Faire, sweet, cruell

Thomas Ford (c1580 - sepolto il 17 novembre 1648): Faire, sweet, cruell, ayre (pubblicato in Musicke of Sundrie Kindes, 1607, vol. I, n. 7). Victo­ria Cassano, soprano; Javier Ovejero Mayoral, liuto.

Faire, sweet, cruell, why doest thou flie mee,
Goe not, oh goe not from thy deerest,
Though thou doest hasten I am nie thee,
When thou see’mst farre then am I neerest,
  Tarrie then and take me with you.

Fie, fie, sweetest here is no danger,
Flie not, oh flie not loue pursues thee,
I am no foe, nor forraine stranger,
Thy scornes with fresher hope renewes me,
  Tarrie then and take me with you.