by John Dryden (1631 - 1700)
How blest are shepherds
Language: English
Our translations: CAT
How blest are shepherds, how happy their lasses, While drums and trumpets are sounding alarms. Over our lowly sheds all the storm passes, And when we die 'tis in each others arms, All the day on our herds and flocks employing, All the night on our flutes and in enjoying. Bright nymphs of Britain with graces attended, Let not your days without pleasure expire. Honour's but empty, and when youth is ended, All men will praise you but none will desire. Let not youth fly away without contenting, Age will come time enough for your repenting.
Text Authorship:
- by John Dryden (1631 - 1700) [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 (Edward) Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976), "How blest are shepherds", 1960 [ voice and piano ], a realization of the Purcell song. Confirmed with a CD booklet [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Henry Purcell (1658/9 - 1695), "How blest are shepherds", 1691 [ tenor, chorus and orchestra ], from the incidental music to King Arthur or The British Worthy, no. 8 [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Que benaurats són els pastors", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2024-05-27
Line count: 12
Word count: 96