And think ye Nymphs to scorn at love - Love is a fit of pleasure (William Byrd)

From ChoralWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Music files

L E G E N D Disclaimer How to download
ICON SOURCE
Icon_pdf.gif Pdf
Icon_snd.gif Midi
MusicXML.png MusicXML
Sibelius.png Sibelius
File details.gif File details
Question.gif Help
  • (Posted 2004-03-30)  CPDL #06871:        (Sibelius 4)
Editor: David Fraser (submitted 2004-03-30).   Score information: A4, 6 pages, 248 kB    Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Revised Sept 2021 (minor formatting, editorial).

General Information

Title: And think ye Nymphs to scorn at love - Love is a fit of pleasure
Composer: William Byrd

Number of voices: 5, 6vv   Voicings: SATTB and SSATTB
Genre: SecularPartsong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1589 in Songs of sundrie natures, no. 42 & 43
Description: Part 1 is for 5 voices, part 2 for 6.

External websites:

Original text and translations

English.png English text

And thinke ye Nymphes to scorne at love?
as if his fire were but of strawes:
he made the mightie gods above,
to stoope and bowe unto his lawes,
& with his shafts of beautie bright,
he slaies the hearts that scorne his might.

Love is a fit of pleasure,
bred out of Idle braines,
his fancies have no measure,
no more than have his paines,
his vaine affections like the weather,
precise or fond, we wot not whether.