It was a time when silly Bees could speake (John Dowland)
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General Information
Title: It was a time when silly Bees could speake
Composer: John Dowland
Lyricist: Robert, Earl of Essex
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Madrigal
Language: English
Instruments: a cappella
Published: 1603
Description: No. XVIII from The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires (1603)
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
It was a time when silly bees could speak,
And in that time I was a silly bee,
Who fed on time until my heart 'gan break,
Yet never found the time would favour me.
Of all the swarm I only did not thrive,
Yet brought I wax and honey to the hive.
Then thus I buzzed when time no sap would give:
Why should this blessed time to me be dry,
Sith by this time the lazy drone doth live,
The wasp, the worm, the gnat, the butterfly?
Mated with grief I kneeled on my knees,
And thus complained unto the king of bees:
My liege, gods grant thy time may never end,
And yet vouchsafe to hear my plaint of time,
Which fruitless flies have found to have a friend,
And I cast down when atomies do climb.
The king replied but thus: Peace, peevish bee,
Thou'rt bound to serve the time, the time not thee.
