The Lyrics of Henry VIII/Why shall not I (Unattributed)
[ff. 107v-108r]
Why shall not I.
why shall not I to my lady.
why shall not I be trew
why shall not I.
my lady hath me in that grace 5
she takes me as her howne
her mynd is in non other place
now sith it ys thus known
why shall not I
my lady sayth of trouth. it ys 10
no loue that can be lost
alas alas what word ys this
her to remember mest
why shall not I.
Textual Commentary
[edit | edit source]Meditating on his lady’s statement that “trouth … ys no loue that can be lost” (ll. 10–11), the speaker of this lyric asks himself the rhetorical question posed in the incipit.
- 6 howne Own.
The unattributed “Why shall not I” is through-set in three voices.
This piece is indexed in Robbins Index & Suppl. 2250.5, Boffey, and Ringler MS TM1051. Reprinted in Flügel Anglia 250–51, Flügel Neuengl 137, Stevens M&P 419, and Stevens MCH8 79.
Textual Notes
[edit | edit source]Texts Collated
[edit | edit source]H1,2,3 (ff. 107v–108r).
- 9 not I] I not H3
- 10 trouth.] non trouth^ H2, trouth^ H3
- 13 remember] reme H1, remember H2,3; mest] est H1,2,3 (Stevens M&P 419 and others)
- 14 not I] I not H3