O that most rare breast (William Byrd)
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- CPDL #04674: Sibelius 4
- Editor: David Fraser (submitted 2003-03-23). Score information: A4, 12 pages, 210 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: Revised March 2008
General Information
Title: O that most rare breast
Composer: William Byrd
Lyricist: Thomas Watson or Sir Edward Dyer
Number of voices: 5vv Voicing: SATTB
Genre: Secular, Partsong
Language: English
Instruments: A cappella
Published: Psalmes, sonets, & songs (1588), no. 35
Description:
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
O that most rare brest, christaline sincere,
through which like gold thy princely heart did shine,
O sprite heroic, O valiant worthie knight,
O Sidney, prince of fame & mens good will.
For thee both kings & princesses doe morne,
thy noble Tombe, three Cities strange desird,
Foes to the cause thy prowes did defend,
beewayle the day that crost thy famous race.
The dolefull debt due to thy hearse I pay,
tears from the soule, that aye thy want shall moane,
and by my will my life it selfe would yeeld,
if heathen blame ne might, my faith disdaine:
O heavie time, that my daies draw behind thee,
thou dead dost live, thy friend here living dieth.