Why fair maid in ev'ry feature (Lewis, set by H. Abrams, J. Davy) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


Why, fair maid in every feature,
Are such signs so fair expressed?
Can a wandering wretched creature
With such terror fill thy breast?

Does my frenzy look so ugly?
Trust me, sweet, life's airs are vain,
Not for kingdoms would I harm thee,
Shun not then, poor Crazy Jane.

Does my frenzy seem to harm thee?
Mark me and avoid my woe,
When men flatter, sigh, and languish,
Think them false, I found them so.

For I love thee so sincerely
None could ever love again,
Young Henry fled and with him forever
Fled the wits of Crazy Jane.

Fondly my young heart receiv'd him,
Which was doomed to love but one.
He sighed - he vowed - and I believed him,
He was false - and I undone.

Since that hour has reason never
Held her empire o'er my brain,
Young Henry fled and with him forever
Fled the wits of Crazy Jane.

Lonely now and broken hearted,
And with frenzied thoughts beset
On that spot where last we parted,
On that spot where first we met.

Then I will sing my lovelorn ditty,
Still I'll lonely pace the plain,
And each passerby in pity cries:
"God help poor Crazy Jane!"

Input by Ferdinando Albeggiani

Authorship

Matthew Gregory Lewis (1775-1818)

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

Harriet Abrams (1760-1825)

John Davy (1763-1824)

Date added to the website: 2009-11-02.

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