The Lyrics of Henry VIII/Wherto shuld I expresse, Henry VIII

[ff. 51v-52r]

The Kynge .H.viij.

Textual Commentary
“Wherto shuld I expresse” is a song of departure, with two speakers. The first stanza laments the lover’s leaving. In what follows, his lady answers by soothing him and assuring him of her devotion and the pain she will share with him until they reunite.


 * 3   fayn Glad, rejoiced, well-pleased (OED a A.1).
 * 13 delectale  Delectable.
 * 14 wan and blo   Pale (pale [OED a 4.e]) and blue (blackish blue, livid, leaden-coloured [OED a]); perhaps associated with the pale complexion of the steretypical lover, suffering in the throes of love’s pain; cf., also, the words of Magnificence in Skelton’s drama of the same name, who comments with the realisation of his fall that “For worldy shame I wax both wan and blo” (l. 2055).
 * 15 not varyable   See Henry’s “Grene growith the holy” (H 27.5–8) for a similar application of natural attributes to the qualities of the lover.

“Whereto shuld I expresse” is in three voices, with the text of the first two couplets underlaid and the remaining text appearing at the end of the music.

Indexed in Robbins Index & Suppl. 4070.5, Boffey, Ringler MS TM1931, Crum W1781. Reprinted in Chambers Lyrics 55, Chambers Verse 35, Chappell Music 45–6, Flügel Anglia 241, Flügel Neuengl 135, Stevens M&P 404, Stevens MCH8 50–1, and Trefusis 20.