Come to me grief for ever (William Byrd)

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• (Posted 2004-09-27)  CPDL #07930:        (Sibelius 4)

Editor: David Fraser (submitted 2004-09-27).   Score information: A4, 2 pages, 87 kB    Copyright: CPDL

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

• (Posted 2001-05-08)  CPDL #02607:  PDF, MID & ABC files

Editor: Laura Conrad (submitted 2001-05-08).   Score information: Letter, 5 pages, 76 kB   Copyright: GnuGPL

Edition notes: In partbook format.

General Information

Title: Come to me grief for ever
Composer: William Byrd

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

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

    Manuscript 1580 in Dow Partbooks, no. 61
First published: 1588 in Psalmes, Sonnets and Songs, no. 34
Description: Elegy for Sir Philip Sydney, d. 1586.

Original text and translations

English text

Come to me grief for ever,
Come to me tears day and night,
Come to me plaint, ah helpless,
Just grief, heart tears, plaint worthy,

Go from me dread to die now
Go from me care to live more,
Go from me joys all on earth,
Sidney, O Sidney is dead.

He whom the Court adorned,
He whom the country courtesied,
He who made happy his friends,
He that did good to all men.

Sidney, the hope of lands strange,
Sidney, the flower of England,
Sidney, the spirit heroic,
Sidney id dead, O dead.

Dead? no, no, but renowed
With the anointed one,
Honour on earth at his feet,
Bliss everlasting his seat.

Come to grief for ever
Come to me tears day and night,
Come to me plaint, ah helpless,
Just grief, heart tears, plaint worthy.