O thou that art so cruel

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of intense emotional anguish directed at a beloved but tormenting figure. The opening lines immediately establish a stark contrast: the object of affection is simultaneously described as a "dainty lovely jewel" and "so cruel." This juxtaposition sets the stage for the narrator's plea, highlighting a painful paradox in their relationship. The core of the lament lies in the beloved's perceived "relenting," which the narrator interprets not as mercy, but as a prolonged form of torture. The central tension arises from the narrator's desperate desire for a definitive end to their suffering, whether through the beloved's direct action or a cessation of the current torment. The repeated phrase "Alas, right out come slay me" underscores this urgency, revealing a preference for a swift, albeit fatal, resolution over the agonizing uncertainty of being "delay me" from time to time. This plea suggests the current state of emotional limbo is more unbearable than outright destruction. The craft here is in the direct, almost raw, address and the stark, urgent language. The narrator isn't seeking understanding or reconciliation; they are demanding an end to the pain. The use of "relenting" and "delay me" points to a specific kind of cruelty – one that dangles hope or respite only to withdraw it, prolonging the agony. This cyclical torment is what makes the plea for a final "slay me" so potent and desperate.