by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
When younglings first on Cupid fix their...
Language: English
When younglings first on Cupid fix their sight, and see him naked, blindfold and a boy, though bow and shafts and firebrand be his might, yet ween they he can work them none annoy. And therefore with his purple wings they play, for glorious seemeth love though light as feather, and when they have done, they ween to scape away, for blind men they say, shoot they know not whither. But when by proof they find that he did see, and that his wound did rather dim their sight, they wonder more how such a lad as he, should be of such surpassing power and might but ants have galls, so hath the bee his sting, then shield me heavens from such a subtle thing.
W. Byrd sets stanza 1 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
W. Byrd sets stanza 2 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by William Byrd (1542?3? - 1623), "When younglings first", published 1589, stanza 1 [STT chorus a cappella], from the collection Songs of sundrie natures, no. 10. [text verified 1 time]
- by William Byrd (1542?3? - 1623), "But when by proof", published 1589, stanza 2 [STT chorus a cappella], from the collection Songs of sundrie natures, no. 11. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-08-09
Line count: 14
Word count: 125