Psalmes, Songs, and Sonnets some solemne, others ioyfull, framed to the life of the Words: Fit for Voyces or Viols of 3. 4. 5. and 6. Parts. Composed by William Byrd |
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The following poems are scored for music in the source text. Where poems are not stanzaic, no attempt has been made to reconstruct the metrical lines except in Poem XI and Poem XXVIII. Variations for different voices have been ignored. Repetition marks have been ignored.
[[I.] The Eagles force subdues each Bird that flyes]
The Eagles force subdues each Bird that flyesThe Eagles force subdues each Bird that flyes: What mettall may resist the flaming fire? Doth not the Sunne dazell the clearest eyes? And melt the yse, and make the frost retire? Who can withstand a puissant Kings desire? The stiffest stones are pierced through with tooles: The wisest are with Princes made but fooles.
3. Uoc.
[II. Of flattring speach with sugred words beware]
Of flattring speach with sugred words bewareOf flattring speach with sugred words beware: Suspect the heart, whose face doth fawne and smile, With trusting these the world is clogde with care, And few there be can scape these Vipers vile, With pleasing speach they promise and protest, When hatefull hearts lye hid within their brest.
[III. In Winter cold when tree and bush was bare]
Prima pars.
In Winter cold when tree and bush was bareIn Winter cold when tree and bush was bare, And frost had nipt the rootes of tender grasse, The Ants with ioy did feed vpon their fare, Which they had storde while Summer season was: To whom for food a Grashopper did cry, And said she starude if they did help deny.
[IIII. Whereat an Ant with long experience wise]
Secunda pars.
Whereat an Ant with long experience wiseWhereat an Ant with long experience wise, And frost and snow, had many Winters seene, Inquired what in Summer was her guise. Quoth shee, I sung and hopt in medowes greene. Then quoth the Ant, content thee with thy chance, For to thy song now art thou like to dance.
[V. Who lookes may leape]
Who lookes may leape and saue his shins from knocksWho lookes may leape and saue his shins from knocks, Who tries may trust, else flattring friends shall find: else He saues the Steed, that keepes him vnder locks, Who speaks with heed may boldly speake his minde, But he whose tongue before his wit doth runne, oft speakes too soone, and grieues when he hath done.
[VI. Sing ye to our Lord a new song]
Sing ye to our Lord a new songSing ye to our Lord a new song, his praise in the Church of Saints, Let Israel be ioyfull, in him that made him, and let the daughters of Sion reioyce in their King.
[[VII.] I haue beene young, but now am olde]
I haue beene young, but now am oldeI haue beene young, but now am olde, yet did I neuer see the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging their bread.
[VIII. In Christall Towres]
In Christall Towres, and turrets richly setIn Christall Towres, and turrets richly set With glittring gems, that shine against the Sunne, In regall roomes of Iasper and of Iet, Content of minde not alwayes likes to woon: But oftentimes, it pleaseth her to stay, In simple cotes, enclosde with wals of clay.
4. Uoc.
[IX. This sweet & merry, merry month of May]
This sweet & merry month of MayThis sweet & merry month of May, While Nature wantons, in her Prime, And birds doe sing, and beasts do play, For pleasure, of the ioyfull time, I choose the first, for holy day, And greet Eliza with a rime. O, beauteous Queene of second Troy, Take wel in worth, a simple toy.
[X. Let not the sluggish sleepe]
Let not the sluggish sleepeLet not the sluggish sleepe, close vp thy waking eye, Vntill with iudgement deepe thy daily deedes thou try. Hee that one finne in conscience keepes when hee to quiet goes, More ventrous is then he that sleepes, With twentie mortall foes.
XI.
[A fained friend by proofe I finde]
To be a greater foe,
Then he that with a spightfull minde,
Doth seeke my ouerthrow,
For of the one I can beware,
With craft the other breedes my care.
which in the Seas doe lie:
Against the which each Ship that knocks,
is drowned sodainly.
No greater fraud, nor more vniuft,
Then false deceit hid vnder trust.
[XII. Awake mine eyes]
Awake mine eyes, see Phœbus bright arisingAwake mine eyes, see Phœbus bright arising, And lesser Lights to shades obscure descending: Glad Philomela sits tunes of ioy deuising, Whilst in sweet notes, From warbling throtes, The Siluan Quire, With like desire, To her are Ecchoes sending.
[XIII. Come iolly Swaynes]
Come iolly Swaynes, come let vs sit aroundCome iolly Swaynes, come let vs sit around, And with blithe Carrols, sullen cares confound. The Shepheards life, Is void of strife: No worldly treasures, Distastes our pleasures, With free consenting, Our mindes contenting, We smiling laugh, While others sigh repenting.
[XIIII. What is life, or worldly pleasure?]
What is life, or worldly pleasure?What is life, or worldly pleasure? What is wealth or golden treasure? What is grace or Princes smiling. What are all in one combinde, which diuided so displease? Apish toyes, and vaine delights, mindes vnrest, and soules disease.
[XVI. Come let vs reioyce vnto our Lord]
Come let vs reioyce vnto our LordCome let vs reioyce vnto our Lord, let vs make ioy to God our Sauiour. Let vs approch to his presence, in confession. and in Psalmes, let vs make ioy to him.
5. Uoc.
[XVII. Retire my soule]
Retire my soule, consider thine estateRetire my soule, consider thine estate, And iustly summe thy lauish sinnes account. Times deare expence, and costly pleasures rate, How follyes grow, how vanities amount. Write all these downe, in pale Deathes reckoning table, Thy dayes will seeme but dreames, thy hopes but fables.
[XVIII. Arise Lord into thy rest]
Arise Lord into thy restArise Lord into thy rest: Thou, and the Arke, of thy sanctification. Let the Priests be clothed with iustice, And let the Saints reioyce, reioyce.
[XIX. Come wofull Orpheus with thy charming Lyre]
Come wofull Orpheus with thy charming LyreCome wofull Orpheus with thy charming Lyre. And tune my voyce, vnto thy skilfull wyre, Some strange Cromatique Notes, doe you deuise, That best with mournefull accents sympathize, Of sowrest Sharps, and vncouth Flats, make choise, And Ile thereto compassionate my voyce.
[XX. Sing we merrily vnto God our strength]
Prima pars.
Sing we merrily vnto God our strengthSing we merrily vnto God our strength, Make a chearefull noyse vnto the God of Iacob, Take the Shalme, bring hither the Tabret, the merry Harp, with the Lute.
[XXI. Blow vp the Trumpet in the new Moone]
Secunda pars.
Blow vp the Trumpet in the new MooneBlow vp the Trumpet in the new Moone, euen in the time appointed, and vpon our solemne feast day: for this was made a statute for Israel, and a Law of the God of Iacob.
[XXII. Crowned with flowres, I saw faire Amarillis]
Crowned with flowres, I saw faire AmarillisCrowned with flowres, I saw faire Amarillis, by Thirsis sit, hard by a fount of Christall, And with her hand more white then snow or Lillies, On sand shee wrote, my faith shall be immortall: And sodainely, a storme of winde and weather, Blew all her faith and sand away together.
[XXIII. Wedded to will is witlesse]
Wedded to will is witlesse, And seldome he is skilfullWedded to will is witlesse, And seldome he is skilfull, That beares the name of vvise, and yet is wilfull. To gouerne he is fitlesse, That deales not by election, but by his fond affection. O that it might be treason. for men to rule by will, and not by reason.
[XXIIII. Make ye ioy to God all the earth]
Make ye ioy to God all the earthMake ye ioy to God all the earth, Serue ye our Lord in gladnesse, Enter ye in before his sight, in iolitie, know ye, that our Lord he is God. he made vs, and not we our selues.
[XXV. Haue mercy vpon me O God]
Haue mercy vpon me O GodHaue mercy vpon me O God, after thy great goodnes, And according to the multitude of thy mercies wipe away mine offences, Wash me cleane from my wickednesse, and purge me from my sinnes.
6. Uoc.
[XXVII. This day Christ was borne]
A Carroll for Christmas day.
This day Christ was borneThis day Christ was borne, this day our Sauiour did appeare, This day the Angels sing in earth, the Archangels are glad, This day the iust reioyce, saying, Glory be to God on high, Alleluia.
XXVIII. A Carroll for New-yeares day.
olde Adam Lord from vs expell:
New creatures make vs euery one,
new life becomes the New-yeare well.
As new borne babes from malice keepe,
new wedding garments O Christ we craue:
That we thy face in heauen may see
with Angels bright our soules to saue.
Chorus.
So shall our hearts with heauen agree,And both giue laud and praise to thee.
[XXIX. Praise our Lord, praise our Lord all ye Gentiles]
Praise our Lord, praise our Lord all ye GentilesPraise our Lord, praise our Lord all ye Gentiles, praise him all ye people, Because his mercy is confirmed vpon vs, confirmed vpon vs, because his mercy is confirmed vpon vs, vpon vs, confirmed vpon vs, is confirmed vpon vs, vpon vs. because his mercy is confirmed vpon vs, vpon vs, and his truth remaineth for euer, for euer, for euer, and his truth remaineth for euer, remaineth for euer for euer. remaineth for euer. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
[XXX. Tvrne our captiuitie, O Lord]
Tvrne our captiuitie, O Lord, as a brooke in the SouthTvrne our captiuitie, O Lord, as a brooke in the South, They that sowe in teares, shall reape in ioyfulnesse, Going they went and wept, casting their seeds, comming, they shall come with iolitie.
[XXXI. Ah silly Soule]
Ah silly SouleAh silly Soule. iolitie, they shall come with iolitie, carrying their sheaues with them.
[XXXII. How vaine the toyles that mortall men doe take to hoord vp gold]
How vaine the toyles that mortall men doe takeHow vaine the toyles that mortall men doe take to hoord vp gold that time doth turne to drosse, forgetting him who onely for their sake, his precious bloud did shed vpon the Crosse. And taught vs all in heauen to hoord our treasure, where true encrease doth grow aboue all measure and taught vs all in heauen to hoord vp treasure, where true encrease doth grow aboue all measure.
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