Take, O take those lips away

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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.