Go ye, my canzonets

Song Meaning

These lyrics frame a direct plea, a musical message sent out into the world. The speaker dispatches "my canzonets" – a charmingly archaic term for short, lyrical songs – to a "dear darling." The immediate tone is one of earnest affection and a touch of hopeful desperation, as these musical messengers are tasked with a delicate mission. They must "desire her to vouchsafe these my lamentings," suggesting a deep sadness or longing that the speaker hopes to convey and, perhaps, have understood or eased. The central tension lies in the speaker's vulnerability and the hope placed in these "canzonets" to bridge a gap. The act of sending songs as emissaries implies a distance, either physical or emotional, that the speaker cannot personally traverse. The "gentle dainty sweet accentings" of the songs are meant to soften the "lamentings," a contrast between the beautiful form and the painful content. This delicate balance highlights the speaker's desire for empathy without overwhelming the recipient. The most striking craft element is the almost divine imagery invoked at the end. The songs are asked to request that the darling adorn herself "with a crownet, of her rays supernal." This elevates the beloved to a celestial status, her "rays supernal" suggesting a divine, almost angelic light. By asking the songs to facilitate this, the speaker is not only seeking solace but also placing the darling on a pedestal, hoping her inherent radiance can somehow validate and immortalize the speaker's sorrow, making the "name eternal" through her grace.