Delicate Beauty Henry Lawes was one of the leading songwriters during the reign of Charles I; and the most famous poets, amongst them Milton and Waller, competed for the honour of hav- ing their verses set to music by him. Writing in the following century the famous music historian Charles Burney found most of his work “languid and insipid, and equally devoid of learning and genius.” However since Burney also wrote of the great John Dowland that “besides want of ‘melody and design...there are frequent unwarrantable and, to my ear, very offensive combinations in the harmony,” one may draw one’s own conclusions as to the value of his criticism, In fact Burney’s distaste was clearly due to a strong preference for the Italian style of song, whereas Lawes was a particularly English composer. This charming song is from Lawes’ second book of Ayres and Dialogues (Playford, 1653), [would suggest a light and fairly fast treatment. Henry Lawes {159%-1662), Suffer in silence I can with Take all my comforts in present away. Courting your anger to live in your sight. Let all but the hope of favor decay. Inwardly languish and like my disease, Rich in reversion I'l live as content. Always provided my sufferance please. As he to whom fortune her forlock hath lent.