Wounded I am - Yet of us twain (William Byrd)

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  • (Posted 2006-02-09)  CPDL #10962: 
Part 1: Wounded I am -        
Part 2: Yet of us twain -        
Editor: Brian Russell (submitted 2006-02-09).   Score information: A4, 6 pages, 44 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Includes the second part ("Yet of us twain"). NoteWorthy Composer file may be viewed and printed with NoteWorthy Composer Viewer.
Error.gif Possible error(s) identified. Error summary: Notes See the discussion page for full description.
  • (Posted 2003-10-21)  CPDL #05824:        (Sibelius 4)
Editor: David Fraser (submitted 2003-10-21).   Score information: A4, 7 pages, 267 kB    Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Revised Sept 2021 (error correction, editorial).

General Information

Title: Wounded I am – Yet of us twain
Composer: William Byrd

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: SecularPartsong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1589 in Songs of sundrie natures, no. 17–18
Description: 

External websites:

Original text and translations

English.png English text

Wounded I am, and dare not seek relief,
For this new stroke, unseen but not unfelt;
No blood nor bruise is witness to my grief.
But sighs, but sighs and tears,
wherewith I mourn and melt.
If I complain my witness is suspect.
If I contain with cares I am undone,
sit still and die, tell truth and be reject,
tell truth and be reject,
O hateful choice that sorrow cannot shun,

Yet of us twain whose loss shall be the less?
Mine of my life, or you of your good name,
light is my death regarding my distress,
but your offence cries to your defame:
A virgin fair hath slain for lack of grace,
the man that made an Idol of her face.

A possible Italian original of this text is set as Io son ferito (Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina)