Superius Psalmes, Sonets, & Songs of sadnes and pietie, made into Musicke of fiue parts: whereof, some of them going abroad among diuers, in untrue coppies, are heere truely corrected, and th'other being Songs very rare & newly composed, are heere published, for the recreation of all such as delight in Musick: By William Byrd |
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| [The Sonets and Pastoralles] |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIIII. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
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 | Superius |  |
[The Sonets and Pastoralles]
XI. I Ioy not in no earthly blisse
1
I ioy not in no earthly blisse,I force not Cressus welth a straw:
For care I know not what it is,
I feare not Fortunes fatall law.
My mind is such as may not moue:
for beautie bright nor force of loue
2
I wish but what I haue at will,I wander not to seeke for more:
I like the plaine I clime no hill,
in greatest stormes I sitte on shore:
and laugh at them that toyle in vaine,
to get what must be lost againe.
3
I kisse not where I wish to kill,I faine not loue where most I hate:
I breake no sleepe to winne my will,
I wayte not at the mighties gate:
I scorne no poore, nor feare no ritch,
I feele no want nor haue to much.
4
The Court and cart I like nor loath,extreames are counted worst of all:
the golden meane betweene them both,
doth surest sit and feare no fall:
this is my choyse, for why I finde,
no wealth is like the quiet minde.
FINIS.
XII. Though Amarillis
1
Though Amarillis daunce in greene, like Fayrie Queene,& sing full cleere,
Corina can with smiling cheere:
yet since their eyes make heart so sore,
hey ho, chil loue no more,
chil loue no more,
2
My sheepe are lost for want of foode.and I so wood:
that all the day,
I sit and watch a heardmaid gaye:
who laughes to see me sigh so sore,
hey ho, chil loue no more.
3
Her louing lookes, her beautie bright,is such delight:
that all in vaine,
I loue to like, and lose my gaine:
for her that thankes me not therefore,
hey ho chil loue no more.
4
Ah wanton eyes my friendlie foes,and cause of woes:
your sweete desire,
breeds flames of Ise & freese in fire:
ye skorne to see me weepe so sore,
hey ho chil loue no more.
5
Loue ye who list I force him not,sith God it wot,
the more I wayle,
the lesse my sighs and teares preuaile:
what shall I doe but say therefore,
hey ho chil loue no more.
FINIS.
XIII. Who likes to love
1
Who lykes to loue let him take heed,and wot you why:
Among the Gods it is decreed,
that Loue shal die,
& euerie wight that takes his part,
shal forfaite each,
a mourning heart,
2
The cause is this as I haue heard,a sort of dames,
whose beautie he did not regard,
nor secret flames.
complaind before the gods aboue,
that golde corrupts the God of loue.
3
The gods did storme to heare this newesand there they swore,
that sith he did such dames abuse,
he should no more
be god of Loue, but that he should
both die, and forfait all his gold.
4
His bowe & shaftes they tooke away,before their eies,
and gaue these dames a longer day,
for to deuise,
who should them keepe, & they be bound,
that loue for gold should not be found.
5
These Ladies striuing long, at last,they did agree,
to giue them to a mayden chast,
whome I did see:
who with the same did perce my brest,
her beauties rare and so I rest.
FINIS.
XIIII. My minde to me &c.
1
My minde to me a kingdome is,such perfect ioy therin I find:
That it excells all other blisse,
which God or Nature hath assign'd:
though much I want, that most wold haue,
yet stil my mind, forbids to craue:
2
No princ'lie port nor welthie store,no force to winne a victorie:
no wylie wit to salue a sore,
no shape to winne a louing eye:
to none of these I yeeld as thrall,
for why my mind despise them all,
3
I see that plentie surfets oft.and hastie clymbers soonest fall:
I see that such as are aloft,
mishap doth threaten most of all:
these get with toyle and keepe with feare,
such cares my mind can neuer beare.
4
I presse to beare no haughtie sway,I wish no more then may suffice:
I doe no more then well I may.
looke what I want my mind supplice:
loe thus I triumph like a king,
my minde content with any thing.
5
I laugh not at anothers losse,nor grudge not at anothers gaine:
no worldly waues my mind can tosse,
I brooke that is an others bane:
I feare no soe nor fawne on friend,
I loth not life nor dread mine end.
6
My wealth is health & perfect case,and conscience cleere my chiefe defence:
I neuer seeke by brybes to please,
nor by desart to giue offence:
thus do I liue, thus will I die,
would all did so as well as I.
FINIS.
XV. Where fancy fond
1
Where fancy fōd for pleasure pleads,& reason, keeps poore hope in Iayle:
ther time it is to take my beads,
& pray, that beautie may preuaile,
or else dispaire, wil winthe field,
wher reason, wher reason hope & pleasure yeeld,
2
My eyes presume to iudge this case,whose iudgement reason doth disdain:
but beautie with her wanton face,
stands to defend, the case is plaine:
and at the barre of sweet delight,
she pleads that fancie must be right.
3
But shame will not haue reason yeeld,though griefe do sweare it shall be so:
as though it were a perfect shield,
to blush, and feare to tell my woe:
where silence force will at the last,
to wish for wit when hope is past.
4
So farre hath fond desire out runne,the bond which reason set out first:
that where delight the fray begunne,
I would now say, if that I durst:
that in her stead ten thousand woes,
haue sprong in field where pleasure grows
5
O that I might declare the rest,of all the tores which fancy turnes:
like towrs of wind within my brest,
where fire is hid that neuer burnes.
then should I try one of the twaine,
either to loue, or to disdaine.
6
But fine conceit dares not declare,the strange conflict of hope and feare:
least reason should be left so bare,
that loue durst whisper in mine eare,
and tell me how my fancie shall,
bring reason to be beawties thrall.
7
I must therefore with silence buyld,the Laborinth of my delight:
till loue haue tri'd in open field,
which of the twaine shall win the fight:
I feare mee reason must giue place,
If fancie fond winne beauties grace.
FINIS.
XVI. O you that heare this voyce
1
O you, that heare this voice,O you that see this face,
say whether of the choise
may haue the former place:
Who dare iudge this debate,
though it be voide of hate:
2
this side doth beautie take,for that doth Musicke speak,
fit Orators to make,:
the strongest iudgements weak.
The bar to plead their right,
is onely true delight,
3
Thus doth the voyce and face,these gentle lawiers wage:
like louing brothers cast.
for fathers heritage:
that ech, while ech contends,
it selfe to other lends.
4
For beautie beautifies,with heauenly hewe and grace,
the heauenly harmonies,
and in that faultles face,
the perfect beauties be,
a perfect harmonie.
5
Musicke more loftie swells,in phrases finely plac'd:
Beautie as farre excels,
in action aptly grac'd:
a friend ech partie drawes,
to countenance his cause.
6
Loue more affected seemes,to Beauties louelie light,
and wonder more esteemes,
of Musicke wond'rous might,
but both to both so bent,
as both in both are spent.
7
Musicke doth witnesse call,the eare his truth doth trie:
Beautie brings to the hall,
eye witnesse of the eye
eche in his obiect such,
as none exceptions touch,
8
The cōmon sense which might,be arbiter of this:
to be forsoth vpright,
to both sides parciall is:
he layes on this chiefe prayse,
chiefe praise on that he layes.
9
Then reason, princesse hie,which sits in throne of mind:
and Musicke can in skye,
with hidden beauties find,
say whether thou wilt crowne,
with limit lesse renowne.
FINIS.
XVII. If woemen could be faire
1
If weemen could be faire & neuer fond,or that their beauty might continue still:
I would not meruaile though they made men bond, by seruice long,
by seruice long to purchase their good wil.
But when I see, how fraile, how fraile, these cretures are,
I laugh, I laugh that men forget thēselues so farre.
2
To marke what choise they make, & how they change,How leauing best, the worst they chose out still:
And how like haggards wilde, about they range,
Skorning after reason to follow will.
who would not shake such bussards from the fist,
And let them flie [faire fooles] which way they list.
3
Yet for our sport, we fawne & flatter both,To passe the time, when nothing else can please:
And traine them on, to yeeld by subtill oath,
The sweet content, that giues such humer ease.
And then we say, when we their follies trie,
To play with fooles, Oh what a foole was I.
FINIS.
[XVIII. Ambitious loue hath forst me to aspire]
Ambitious loue hath forst me to aspireAmbitious loue hath forst me to aspire, the beauties rare which do adorne thy face: Thy modest life yet bridles my desire, whose seuere law doth promise me no grace. But what? may loue liue vnder any law. No, no his power exceedeth mans cōceit: Of which the Gods thēselues do stād in awe: for on his frown, a thousād tormēts waite. Proceed thē in this desperate enterprise, with good aduise, & follow loue thy guyd, that leads thee to thy wished Paradise, to thy wished Paradise, Paradise. Thy climing thoughts, this comfort take with all, that if it be thy foule disgrace to slide, thy braue attēpt shall yet excuse thy fall, thy braue attempt shal yet excuse thy fall, shall yet excuse thy fall.
XIX. What pleasure haue great princes
1
What pleasure haue great princes,more daintie to their choice,
then heardmen wild, who carelesse,
in quiet life reioyce,
& fortunes fate not fearing,
sing sweet, in Sommer morning:
2
Their dealings plaine and rightfull,are voyd of all disceit:
they neuer know how spightfull
it is to kneele and waite
on fauorite presumptious,
whose pride is vaine and sumptious.
3
All day their flocks ech tendeth,at night they take their rest,
more quiet than who sendeth
his ship into the East,
where gold and pearle are plentie,
but getting very daintie.
4
For Lawiers and their pleadingthe 'steeme it not a straw,
they think that honest meaning
is of it selfe a law,
vvhere conscience iudgeth plainely,
they spend no mony vainely.
5
O happie who thus liueth,not caring much for gold,
with clothing which suffiseth,
to keepe him from the cold,
though poore and plaine his diet,
yet merry it is and quiet,
FINIS.
XX. As I beheld
As I beheld I saw a heardman wildeAs I beheld I saw a heardman wilde, with his sheephooke a picture fine deface, which he sometime his fancie to beguild, had caru'd on barke of beech, in secret place, & with despite of most afflicted mind, through deepe dispaire of heart, for loue dismaid, he puld euen from the tree, the carued rinde, & weping sore these woful words he said, ah Philida, would god thy picture faire, I could as lightie blot out of my brest, then should I not thus rage, with great dispight, & teare the thing sometime I liked best, but all in vaine, it booteth not god wot, what printed is in hart, on tree to blot, but all in vaine, it booteth not god wot, what printed
XXI. Although the heathen poets
Although the heathen poets did Appollo famous praiseAlthough the heathen poets did Appollo famous praise, as one who for his Musicke sweet, no peare had in his daies. Although the heathen poets did, &c.
XXII. In fields abroade
1
In fields abroad, wher Trumpets shryl do sound,wher glaues & shilds, do giue & take the knocks,
wher bodies dead, do ouerspred the groūd:
& friends to foes, are common butchers blocks,
A gallant shot, wel managing his peece,
in my conceit, deserues a golden fleece,
2
Amid the seas, a gallant ship set out,where in nor men nor yet munitions lacks,
in greatest windes that spareth not a clout,
but cuts the waues in spight of wethers wracks,
would force a swain that coms of cowards kinde,
to change him selfe and be of noble minde.
3
VVho makes his seat a stately stamping stead,whose neighes & playes are princely to behold,
vvhose courage stout, vvhose eies are fiery red,
vvhose ioynts vvell knit, vvhose harnes all of gold
doth vvell deserue to be no meaner thing,
then Perciā knight whose horse made him a king.
4
By that bedside vvherè sits a gallant Dame,vvho casteth of hir braue and rich attyre,
vvhose petecote sets forth as faire a frame,
as mortall men or gods can vvell desire,
vvho sits and sees his pettecote vnlast,
I say no more the rest are all disgrast.
FINIS.
XXIII. Constant Penelope
Constant Penelope, sends to thee carelesse VlissesConstant Penelope, sends to thee carelesse Vlisses, write not againe, but come sweet mate thy selfe to reuiue me. Troy we doe much enuie, we desolate lost ladies of Greece: Not Priamus, nor yet all Troy can vs recompēce make. Oh, oh, oh, that he had when he first tooke shipping to Lacedemon, that adulter I meane, had bene o'rewhelmed with waters: Thē had I not liue now all alone, thus quiuering for cold, nor vsed this complaint, nor haue thought the day to be so long. Then had I not line now all alone thus quiuering for cold, nor vsed this complaint, nor haue thought the day to be so long.
XXV. Farewell false loue
1
Farewell false loue, the oracle of lies,a mortall foe, & enimie to rest:
An enuious boy, from whome all cares arise,
A bastard vile, a beast with rage possest.
A way of error, a temple ful of treason,
in all effects, contrary vnto reason:
2
A poysoned serpent couered all vvith flovvers,Mother of sighes and murtherer of repose,
A sea of sorows frō whēce are drawē such showers
As moisture lend to euery griefe that grovves,
A schole of guile, a net of deepe deceit,
A guilded hooke, that holds a poysoned bayte.
3
A fortresse foyld, which reason dyd defend,A Syren song, a feauer of the minde,
A maze vvherein affection finds no end,
A raging cloud that runnes before the vvinde,
A substance like the shadow of the Sunne,
A goale of griefe for vvhich the vvisest tunne.
4
A quenchlesse fire, a nursse of trembling feare,A path that leads to perill and mishap,
A true retreat of sorrovv and dispayre,
An idle boy that sleepes in pleasures lap,
A deepe mistrust of that vvhich certaine seemes,
A hope of that vvhich reason doubtfull deemes.
FINIS.
XXVI. The match that's made
1
The match that's made for iust & true respects,with euennes both of yeers & parentage,
of force must bring forth many good effects,
Pari iugo dulcis tractus.
2
For vvhere chast loue and liking sets the plant,And concord vvaters vvith a firme good vvill,
Of no good thing there can be any vvant.
Pari iugo dulcis tractus.
3
Sound is the knot that chastitie hath tyde,Svveet is the Musicke vnitie doth make,
Sure is the store that plentie doth prouide.
Pari iugo dulcis tractus.
4
VVher chastnes fayles, ther concord vvill decay,VVher concord fleets, ther plentie vvill decrease,
VVher plenty vvants, ther loue vvill veare avvay
Pari iugo dulcis tractus.
5
I chastitie restraine all strange desires,I concord keepe the course of sound consent,
I plentie spare and spend as cause requires.
Pari iugo dulcis tractus.
6
Make touch of vs all ye that married bee,Speake vvell of vs all ye that minde to bee,
The tyme may come, to vvant and vvish all three.
Pari iugo dulcis tractus.
FINIS.
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