"Who Is Sylvia, What is She"?

[chrissa1]

Where is this phrase from please?

[Sandy-Wroe]

A poem by Lovelace, I think

[Sandy-Wroe]

No Shakespear
Who is Sylvia? What is she,
That all our swains commend her?
Holy, fair and wise is she;
The heaven such grace did lend her
That she might admire be.

Is she kind as she is fair?
For beauty lives with kindness:
Love doth to her eyes repair,
To help him of his blindness;
And being help'd, inhabits there.

Then to Sylvia let us sing.
That Sylvia is excelling;
She excels each mortal thing
Upon the dull earth dwelling;
To her let us garlands bring.

[chrissa1]

Thanks sandy-wroe. I had an inkling it was Shakespeare

[Coldicote]

You're probably right about Shakespeare and might be interested in the following link with sound:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8vHk038_VY

[lardhelmet]

Dr Hook used to be neighbours of mine - they knew Sylvia's mother

[chrissa1]

Thanks coldicote, a memory from somewhere in my far distant past.
Lardhelmet, you Do make me laugh.