The Lyrics of Henry VIII/Alas what shall I do for love, Henry VIII
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[ff. 20v-21r]
| Early Modern English | Modern English |
| Alas what shall I do for love | Alas, what shall I do for love? |
| for love alasse what shall I do | For love, alas, what shall I do? |
| Syth now so kynd | Since now so kind |
| I do yow fynde | I do you find |
| to kepe yow me vnto | To kepe you me unto |
| Alasse | Alasse! |
Textual Commentary[edit | edit source]
“Alas what shall I do for love” is a lyric about keeping a lover, once she is discovered, with play on the two separate syllables of “alas” (“a” and “lass”). Stevens notes that the words of further strophic verses may be missing (M&P 390).
- 3 syth Since.
This lyric appears solely in H, where it is given in four complete voices.
“Alas what shall I do for love” is Indexed in Robbins Index & Suppl. 159.5, Boffey, Ringler MS TM110, Crum A884. The piece is reprinted in Chappell Account 374, Flügel Anglia 231, Flügel Neuengl 133, Trefusis 7–8, Padelford 78, Stevens M&P 390, and Stevens MCH8 16.