This poet sings the Trojan wars (Anacreon's Defeat), Z 423 (Henry Purcell)
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- (Posted 2008-06-08) CPDL #17168:
- Contributor: David Newman (submitted 2008-06-08). Score information: A4, 7 pages, 248 kB Copyright: Public Domain
- Edition notes: A scan of Arkwright's edition, with realized accompaniment
General Information
Title: Anacreon's Defeat
Composer: Henry Purcell
Lyricist: Anonymous
Number of voices: 1v Voicing: Bass solo
Genre: Secular, Art song
Language: English
Instruments: Basso continuo or Piano
First published: 1698 in Orpheus Britanicus I
Description:
External websites:
- "Six Purcell Songs" (1901) at Google Books
- Resources for this work at Art Song Central
Original text and translations
English text
This poet sings the Trojan wars,
Another of the Theban jars,
In rattling numbers, verse that dares.
Whilst I, in soft and humble verse,
My own captivities rehearse;
I sing my own defeats, which are
Not the events of common war.
Not fleets at sea have vanquish’d me,
Nor brigadiers, nor cavalry,
Nor ranks and files of infantry.
No, Anacreon still defies
All your artillery companies
Save those encamp’d in killing eyes;
Each dart his mistress shoots, he dies.