Lament for Pelham Humfrey (William Gregory)
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(Posted 2026-03-12) CPDL #88629:
- Editor: Jonathan Goodliffe (submitted 2026-03-11). Score information: A4, 2 pages, 36 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: There was no title to this piece, so one has been added.
General Information
Title: Lament for Pelham Humfrey
Composer: William Gregory
Lyricist: Thomas Flatman
Number of voices: 2vv Voicing: SB
Genre: Secular, Lament
Language: English
Instruments: Basso continuo
First published: 1683
Description: A solo song with 2 voice chorus in memory of Pelham Humfrey, the Restoration composer
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Did you not hear the hideous groan,
The sighs and heavy moan
That spread themselves o'er all the pensive plain
And rent the breast of many a tender swain?
'Twas for Amintas, dead and gone.
Sing ye forsaken shepherds, sing his praise,
In careless melancholy lays:
Lend him a little doleful breath,
Poor Amintas, cruel death.
'Twas thou that mad'st dead words to live,
Thou that dull numbers didst inspire
With charming voice and tuneful lyre:
That life to all but to thyself could'st give,
Why could'st thou not thy wond'rous art bequeath?
Sing pious shepherds, sing whilst you may,
Before the approaches of the fatal day.
For you yourselves that sing this mournful song,
Alas ere it be long,
Shall like Amintas breathless be,
The more forgotten in the grave than he.