To Lizbie Browne - Earth and air and rain - Finzi

To Lizbie Browne form Finzi's song cycle 'Earth and Air and Rain'

Lyrics:

Dear Lizbie Browne
Where are you now?
In sun, in rain? -
Or is your brow
Past joy, past pain
Dear Lizbie Browne?

Sweet Lizbie Browne
How you could smile
How you could sing! -
How archly wile
In glance-giving
Sweet Lizbie Browne!

And, Lizbie Browne
Who else had hair
Bay-red as yours
Or flesh so fair
Bred out of doors
Sweet Lizbie Browne?

When, Lizbie Browne
You had just begun
To be endeared
By stealth to one
You disappeared
My Lizbie Browne!

Ay, Lizbie Browne
So swift your life
And mine so slow
You were a wife
Ere I could show
Love, Lizbie Browne

Still, Lizbie Browne
You won, they said
The best of men
When you were wed
Where went you then
O Lizbie Browne?

Dear Lizbie Browne
I should have thought
"Girls ripen fast,"
And coaxed and caught
You ere you passed
Dear Lizbie Browne!

But, Lizbie Browne
I let you slip;
Shaped not a sign;
Touched never your lip
With lip of mine
Lost Lizbie Browne!

So, Lizbie Browne
When on a day
Men speak of me
As not, you'll say
"And who was he?" -
Yes, Lizbie Browne

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