What pleasure have great princes (William Byrd)
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- CPDL #8695:
- Editor: David Fraser (added 2004-12-07). Score information: A4, 3 pages, 93 kbytes Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: Revised Sept 08
General Information
Title: What pleasure have great princes
Composer: William Byrd
Number of voices: 5vv Voicing: SATBB
Genre: Secular, Partsong
Language: English
Instruments: a cappella
Published: Psalmes, sonets, & songs... (1588), no.19
Description:
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
What pleasure have great princes,
more daintie to their choice,
then heardmen wild, who carelesse,
in quiet life rejoyce,
& fortunes fate not fearing,
sing sweet, in Sommer morning.
Their dealings plaine and rightfull,
are voyde of all disceit:
they never know how spightfull,
it is to kneele and waite
on favorite presumptuous,
whose pride is vaine and sumptuous.
All day their flocks each tendeth,
at night they take their rest,
more quiet than who sendeth
his ship into the East,
where gold and pearle are plentie,
but getting very daintie.
For Lawiers and their pleading,
the’steeme it not a straw,
they think that honest meaning
is of it selfe a law,
where conscience judgeth plainely,
they spend no mony vainely.
O happie who thus liveth,
not caring much for gold,
with clothing which suffiseth,
too keepe him from the cold,
though poore and plaine his diet,
yet merrie it is and quiet.