Faire in a morne (Breton, set by T. Morley) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


Faire in a morne, oh fairest morne was ever morne so faire,
When as the sun but not the same that shined in the ayre,
But of the earth no earthly sunne, and yet no earthly creature,
There stoode a face was never face, that carried such a feature.

And on a hill, oh faires hill was never hill so blessed,
There stood a man was never man for no man so distressed,
This man had hap O happie man, no man so hapt as he,
For none ahd hap to see the hap, that he had hapt to see.

As he, behold, this man beheld, he saw so faire a face,
The which would daunt the fairest here, and staine the bravest grace,
Pittie he cried, and pittie came, and pittied for his paine,
That dying would not let him die, but gave him life againe.

For joy whereof he made such mirth, that all the world did ring,
And Pan for all his Nimphs came forth, to heare the sheperds sing,
But such a song song never was, nor naire will be againe,
Of Philida the shepeards Queene, and Corison the swaine.

Input by Linda Godry

Authorship

Nicholas Breton (1542-1626)

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

Thomas Morley (1557-1602)

The First Booke of Ayres

Date added to the website: 2008-11-09.

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