Annotation:Omnia Vincit Amor
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OMNIA VINCIT AMOR. Scottish, Air (3/4 time). "Omnia Vincit Amor" is a phrase from Virgil's Eclogues, meaning 'love conquers all'. "The Prioress in Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales', most inappropriately, wore this engraved in gold on her bracelet" notes Robin Williamson. One set of words to the tune, printed in Songs of Scotland (pp. 294-95) begin:
As I went forth to view the spring,
Which Flora had adorned
In gorgeous raiment, everything
A winter's rage outscorned;
I cast mine eye, and did espy
A youth that made great clamour,
And, drawing nigh, I heard him cry,
Ah, Omnia vincit amor!
The same burden ends each stanza. William Chappell (The Roxburghe Ballads, vol. 6, 1889, p. 218) notes the tune was also early known as "The Damaske Rose," while a later name was "So sweet is the Lass that loves me." He also finds a Roxburghe Ballad "entitled "The Last Lamentation of the Languishing Squire; or, Love overcometh all Things;" to the tune of (1) "Billy and Molly" or (2) "Jockey's Jealousy"...It seems probable that other names of the same tune were 'Mock-Beggars' Hall', and 'Is not this your Northern Nancy?'"
A melody by the name "Omnia vincit amor" appears in the Skene manuscript (c. 1630), from the reign of King James VI of Scotland.
Source for notated version:
Printed sources:
Recorded sources: Flying Fish FF358, Robin Williamson - "Legacy of the Scottish Harpers, vol. 1."