Ambitious love (William Byrd)

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• CPDL #17987: Sibelius 4

Editor: David Fraser (submitted 2008-08-28).   Score information: A4, 5 pages, 110 kbytes   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Ambitious Love
Composer: William Byrd

Number of voices: 5vv   Voicing: ATTBB

Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: a cappella
Published: Psalmes, sonets & songs... (1588), no.18

Description:

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Original text and translations

English text

Ambitious love hath forst me to aspire,
the beauties rare which doe adorne thy face:
Thy modest life yet bridles my desire,
whose severe law doth promise mee no grace.
But what? may love live under any law.
No, no? his power exceedeth mans conceit:
Of which the Gods themselves doe stand in awe,
for on his frown, a thousand torments waight.
Proceed then in this desperate enterprise,
with good advise, & follow love thy guide,
that leads thee to thy wished Paradise.
Thy climing thoughts, this comfort take with all,
that if it bee, thy foule disgrace to slide,
thy brave attempt, shall yet excuse thy fall.