Die, hapless man

Song Meaning

This lament paints a stark picture of unrequited love, a dramatic plea for a lover to accept their fate. The opening lines are harsh, commanding the "hapless man" to "Die" because "she denies thee grace" and "scorn to love thee." This immediately sets a tone of absolute rejection, framing the man's suffering as a direct consequence of the beloved's refusal. The central tension lies in the narrator's own conflicting emotions and the painful reversal of their affection. The narrator acknowledges the man's past "duteous love" but now "reprove[s]" him for it, suggesting a shift from pity or indifference to active dismissal. The once-reviving "smiling eyes" have become instruments of his demise, "clouded of frowns" and actively "deprived" him of life. The most striking craft element is the archaic, almost theatrical language, which amplifies the sense of dramatic finality. Phrases like "sith she doth scorn" and "thou dost fair deface" lend a formal, almost operatic weight to the despair. This heightened diction emphasizes the profound, life-altering nature of the rejection, turning a personal heartbreak into a grand, tragic pronouncement. Ultimately, the lyrics resonate through their unflinching portrayal of cruel finality. The narrator doesn't offer comfort but instead pronounces judgment, making the man's suffering seem both inevitable and absolute. The stark contrast between past hope and present despair, delivered with such formal intensity, creates a powerful, albeit bleak, emotional impact.