properly marked by Handel in a chorus from his Oratorio of Israel in Egypt: "For he hath triumphed gloriously." See also Paradise Lost, Book 3. "With joy and love triumphing, and fair truth." Fire! fire! my heart: LXXXIII. Oh help, alas! ay me! I sit and cry me; And call for help, alas! but none comes nigh me. O, I burn me, I burn; Fa la la Alas! I burn; ay me! will none come quench me? Fa la la. This is only a sort of imitation of the Italian Ballet from Gastoldi : "A la strada-adio! "Ait'! ait' oime! ch' io son tradito, "O poverino me, ch'io son ferito." Fa la. The word fire in the original is spelt fy-er, with a separate note to each syllable. So also in No. CLXXXIX. to rhyme with eye her. LXXXIV. Why weeps, alas! my lady love, and mistress? These three lines are worth whole pages of the sentimentalibus lacryma-roarum descriptions, which novel writers give of true lovers' partings, and are far superior to the original : "Non dubitar ch' io t' abandoni mai, "Dolce cor mio; perchè tu sei mia vita, His Canzonets to two voices, published 1595, are thus dedicated: "To the most vertuous and gentile Ladie, the Ladie "Periam. 66 66 "Loe here most worthy Ladie, these Canzonets of mine, "like two wayting maydes desiring to attend upon you; "destinated by my wife (even before they were born) unto your Ladyship's service: not that for any great good or beauty in them she thought them worthy of you; but "that not being able as heretofore still to serve you, she "would that these therefore with their presence, should "make good and supply that her absence. For her sake, "then vouchsafe, gentle Ladie, to entertain them, having no other thing to commend them to you for, but this, "that they are virgins, never having yet been once out at "doors, nor seen the fashions of the world abroad. And "therefore, notwithstanding perhaps in the highest degree they shall not satisfy you, yet if they shall but in any 66 "sort content you, I know that the greatest fault you will "find in them shall be for their smallness: and so good "Madame I cease farther to trouble; but not still to serve "and honour you. "From London, the 17th of November, 1595." This set contains twenty-one compositions, nine of which are Fantasies for instruments alone. The words of the other twelve are for the most part wretched stuff, probably translated by Morley from the Italian. Five out of the number I find amongst the Madrigals of Felice Anerio, a first-rate Italian Composer, and here I must note that Morley has borrowed so exactly a few bars at the commencement of each of them, as in my opinion to take from himself the whole merit of being the original composer. In short such an impudent plagiarism I have seldom witnessed. I shall content myself with the two following specimens. LXXXV. Go ye, my Canzonets, to my dear darling; Italian Version from Anerio's Madrigals. "Gitene, Canzonette, al mio bel sole; 66 Pregatelo ch'ascolti i miei lamenti; "E di corona di suoi raggi superni, "Vi cinga il crin, e 'l vostro honor eterni." Literal enough to satisfy the most scrupulous translator! Morley has published Anerio's music to Gitene Canzonette, in his Selection of Italian Madrigals to four voices, and has adapted it to the words " Long hath my love." LXXXVI. When lo! by break of morning, My love herself adorning, Doth walk the woods so dainty Gathering sweet violets and cowslips plenty : Italian Version from Anerio's Madrigals. "Nei matutini albori, "Premendo i verdi prati, 66 Sceglie fiori i piu lieti ed odorati; "Cantan gl'augelli amorosetti all' hora, "Ecco la nova Aurora." Anerio's music to this is also to be found in Morley's Italian Selection to four voices, adapted to these same English words. 66 In the year 1597 were published his "Canzonets or "little short aers to five and six voices, printed by Peter Short, dwelling on Bread Street Hill, at the sign of the "Star." They are dedicated to "The Right Honorable "Sir George Carey, Knight, Marshal of Her Majesty's "Household, Governor of the Isle of Wight, Captain of the "Honorable Band of Her Highness' Gentlemen Pensioners, "Baron of Hunsdon, and Lord Chamberlain of Her Ma"jesty's House. "My Right Honorable and good Lord; of all those "sweet and gracious favours which tied me to that dear "Lord your father of happy and precious memory; I still "hold myself accountable to your Lordship, his true and "absolute successor. Having therefore composed these "few airs, I thought good to let them walk abroad this "spring time to take the air: and if for their protection "they may only wear the badge of your noble family, then "shall they be right swans' songs indeed, and never need "fear either Arne or Po. I have also set them Tablature"wise to the Lute, in the Cantus book for one to sing and play alone when your Lordship would retire yourself and "be more private: howbeit I wot well Your Lordship "is never disfurnished of great choice of good voices, "such indeed as are able to grace any man's songs. Lo! "then for that love which your Lordship bears to music, "and that duty which I do, and all musicians ought to owe to your Lordship, I humbly recommend both them "and myself to Your Lordship, and Your Lordship to God, " and so I rest, 66 66 "At Your Lordship's service wholly to command, LXXXVII. Fly love, that art so sprightly, To Bonny-boots* uprightly; And when in Heav'n you meet him, Say that I kindly greet him; And that his Oriana True widow maid still followeth Diana. * See the following Madrigal. |