Constant Penelope (William Byrd)

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• (Posted 2007-09-09)  CPDL #14875:         

Editor: Brian Russell (submitted 2007-09-09).   Score information: A4, 5 pages, 38 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: NoteWorthy Composer file may be viewed and printed with NoteWorthy Composer Viewer.

• (Posted 2004-07-15)  CPDL #07659:        (Sibelius 4)

Editor: David Fraser (submitted 2004-07-15).   Score information: A4, 5 pages, 135 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Revised Sept 2021 (formatting, accidentals).

General Information

Title: Constant Penelope
Composer: William Byrd

Number of voices: 5vv   Voicing: ATTBB
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1588 in Psalmes, Sonnets and Songs, no. 23
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

Constant Penelope, sends to thee carelesse Ulisses,
write not againe, but come sweet mate thy selfe to revive mee.
Troy wee doe much envie, wee desolate lost Ladies of Greece:
Not Priamus, nor yet all Troy can us recompence make.
Oh, that hee had when hee first tooke shipping to Lacedemon,
that adulter I meane, had beene o’rewhelmed with waters:
Then had I not lien now all alone, thus quivering for cold,
nor used this complaint, nor have thought the day to bee so long.
Ovid, Heroides I, tr. ?Thomas Watson (c.1557-1592)