Story Behind the Song
Maurice Saylor's Pills to Purge Melancholy were written in 1988 using anonymous English texts from the late Seventeenth century. The Five songs are woven together by an elaborate fabric of motifs that allows a running musical commentary that links ideas from one song to another. For example, the leisurely accompaniment at the opening of the first song, which represents the walking motion of the two characters, is used at a much faster tempo in the last song to represent the endless pursuit of one person after another. The chords of Oh! My Panting, Panting Heart are reused in all five songs at moments of unconsummated passion. The songs were written for and dedicated to American soprano Jeanice Brooks.
Lyrics
IV. A Maid of Honour
A Virgins Life who would be leaving,
Free from Care and fond Desire,
Neer deceivd, or eer deceiving,
Loving none, yet all inspire:
We sit at Home, and Knot the Live-long Day,
A Thousand pretty harmless things we say,
But not one Word of Wedlocks frightful Noose,
For fear we chance to think what we must lose.
Our Souls are free from dire revenges,
Bosoms Mischief never owns,
Our Wits Employd in making Fringes,
And Embroidering our Gowns,
If any Lover comes to play the Thief,
Our Natural dear cunning gives relief,
We Sing, we Dance, the tedious Hours away,
And when weve nothing else to do, we pray.
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