Whann Battayle smethinge (John Wall Callcott)

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Music files

• CPDL #16597: Sibelius 5

Editor: Jonathan Goodliffe (added 2008-04-13).   Score information: A4, 5 pages, 60 kbytes   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Dynamics have been modernised and original spelling of poem by Chatterton restored.

General Information

Title: Whann Battayle smethinge
Composer: John Wall Callcott

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: ATTB
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: Middle English
Instruments: a cappella (originally). Piano accompaniment added by William Horsley (1774-1858).
Published:

Description:

External websites:

Original text and translations

Middle English text
From “The Tournament, an interlude”, by Thomas Chatterton (1752-1770),
lines 161-168 and 173-176

MYNSTRELLES

Whann Battayle, smethynge¹ wythe new quickenn'd gore,
Bendynge wythe spoiles, and bloddie droppynge hedde,
Dydd the merke² woode of ethe³ and rest explore,
Seekeynge to lie onn Pleasures downie bedde,

Pleasure, dauncyng fromm her wode,
Wreathedd wythe floures of aiglintine,
Fromm hys vysage washedd the bloude,
Hylte⁴ hys swerde and gaberdyne.

[ Wythe syke an eyne shee swotelie⁵ hymm dydd view, ]
[ Dydd foe ycorvenn⁶ everrie shape to joie, ]
[ Hys spryte dydd chaunge untoe anodherr hue, ]
[ Hys armes, ne spoyles, mote anie thoughts emploie. ]

All delyghtsomme and contente,
Fyre enshotynge⁷ fromm hys eyne,
Ynn hys arms hee dydd herr hente⁸,
Lyche the merk⁹-plante doe entwyne.

[ Soe, gyff thou lovest Pleasure and herr trayne, ]
[ Onknowlachynge¹⁰ ynn whatt place herr to fynde, ]
[ Thys rule yspende¹¹, and ynn thie mynde retayne; ]
[ Seeke Honnoure fyrste, and Pleasaunce lies behynde. ]

Note: Bracketed text not part of the musical setting

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Footnotes:

  ¹ smoaking, steaming

  ² dark, gloomy

  ³ ease

  ⁴ hid, secreted

  ⁵ sweetly

  ⁶ moulded

  ⁷ shooting, darting

  ⁸ grasp, hold

  ⁹ night-shade

¹⁰ ignorant, unknowing

¹¹ consider