In Winter cold - Whereat an ant (William Byrd)
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- CPDL #05342:
Sibelius 4
- Editor: David Fraser (submitted 2003-07-16). Score information: A4, 3 pages, 98 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: Revised Oct 08
General Information
Title: In Winter cold - Whereat an Ant
Composer: William Byrd
Lyricist: Geoffrey Whitney (c.1548 - c.1601) , from A Choice of Emblemes (1586)
Number of voices: 3vv Voicing: SST
Genre: Secular, Partsong
Language: English
Instruments: a cappella
Published: Psalmes, Songs, and Sonnets... (1611), nos. 3-4
Description:
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
In Winter cold when tree and bush was bare,
And frost had nipt the rootes of tender grasse,
The Ants with joy did feed upon their fare,
Which they had storde while Summer season was:
To whom for food a Grashopper did cry,
And said she starvde if they did help deny.
Whereat an Ant with long experience wise,
And frost and snow, had many Winters seene,
Inquired what in Summer was her guise.
Quoth shee, I sung and hopt in meadowes greene.
Then quoth the Ant, content thee with thy chance,
For to thy song now art thou like to dance.