1. Can she excuse my wrongs with virtues cloak?
shall I call her good when she proves unkind?
Are those clear fires which vanish into smoke?
must I praise the leaves where no fruit I find?

No no where shadows do for bodies stand
thou mayst be abused if thy sight be dim.
Cold love is like to words written on sand
or to bubbles which on the water swim.

Wilt thou be thus abused still
seeing that she will right thee never?
if thou canst not overcome her will
thy love will be thus fruitless ever.

2. Was I so base that I might not aspire
Unto those high joys which she holds from me?
As they are high so high is my desire
If she this deny what can granted be?

If she will yield to that which reason is
It is reasons will that love should be just.
Dear make me happy still by granting this
Or cut off delays if that I die must.

Better a thousand times to die
then for to live thus still tormented
Dear but remember it was I
Who for thy sake did die contented.

The First Booke of Songs or Ayres (1597): ¹ 5 `Can she excuse my wrongs`,  (Dowland)
Recorded: April 2004, Sweden.
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