Take, O take those lips away
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
General information
Lyricist: William Shakespeare, from Measure for Measure, Act IV scene 1. 2nd verse by John Fletcher sometimes attached.
Settings by composers
- George Alexander Macfarren SATB
- Charles Hubert Hastings Parry T solo
- Robert Lucas Pearsall SSTTB or SATTB
- Samuel Reay SATB (with 2nd verse)
- John Stafford Smith ATB (with 2nd verse)
- John Wilson T solo
Text and translations
English text
1. Take, O take those lips away,
That so sweetly were forsworn;
And those eyes, the break of day,
Lights that do mislead the morn:
But my kisses bring again;
Seals of love, but sealed in vain.
2. Hide, O hide those hills of snow,
Which thy frozen bosom bears;
On whose tops the pinks that grow
Are of those that April bears.
But first set my poor heart free,
Bound in those icy charms by thee.