Dost thou idly ask?

Henry Thomas Smart was a notable organist and composer of the Victorian era. This SATB part-song sets a secular English text that offers advice on the most opportune moments to woo a maiden. It suggests springtime, with its burgeoning nature, as an ideal time, but also the stark contrast of winter evenings by a warm hearth. The lyrics reflect on the fickleness of both lovers and the beloved, ultimately urging the suitor to speak the 'delightful story' of love at any season. The music would have been intended for amateur choral societies and domestic music-making, typical of the genre in the 19th century.