Romeo and Juliet vocal duet, 1851.
words and music by Stephen C. Foster
From The Stephen Foster Song Book says: “The duet is based on a passage from the opening of Act III, Scene V, of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Foster’s lovely melody and simple harmonies suggests nothing of the “straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps” that Juliet attributes to the dreaded lark bringing the morning and the departure of her Romeo.”
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by W. Tomaschewski:
Lyrics
Juliet:
Wilt thou be gone, wilt thou be gone, love
Gone, love, from me?
Stay! ’tis the Nightingale
That sings in yonder tree
Deem not ’tis the Lark, love
Day is not yet near
Believe me,’tis the Nightingale
Whose song hath pierced thine ear
Wilt thou be gone?
Duet:
Wilt thou be gone, love
(I must be gone, love)
Wilt thou be gone from me?
(I must be gone from thee)
Stay! ’tis the Nightingale
(’Tis not the Nightingale)
That sings in yonder tree
(That sings in yonder tree)
(’Tis the Lark)
Love, ’tis the Nightingale
(’Tis the Lark)
Love, ’tis the Nightingale
(’Tis the Lark)
Love, ’tis the Nightingale
(’Tis the Lark, love)
That sings in yonder tree
(That sings in yonder tree)
Wilt thou be gone
(I must be gone)
Wilt thou be gone, love
(I must be gone, love)
Gone, love, from me
(Gone, love, from thee)
Gone, love, from me?
(Gone, love, from thee)
Romeo:
It is the Lark, the herald of the morn
Love, no Nightingale
See! the clouds are bright’ning
The stars are growing pale
Day is on yon mountain top
That veils the eastern sky
I must be gone and live, love
Or stay with thee and die
I must be gone
Sung here by Fred Feild: