Surcharged with discontent, 
To Sylvane's bower I went 
To ease my heavy grief-opposed heart, 
And try what comfort winged creatures,
Could yield unto my inward troubled smart 
By modulating their delightful measures 
To my ears pleasing ever.
Of strains so sweet, sweet birds deprive us never.

 ... 

Glossary

Hic-quail or nickle = European green woodpecker
How boy = Hautbois, oboe
Cornutos = cuckolds
Hesperus = the evening star (the planet Venus)
Serverals = nests

Composition:

Set to music by John Bartlet (flourished 1606-1610), "Surcharged with discontent", subtitle: "Part 1", published 1606, stanza 1 [ voice, lute, and viola da gamba ], from A booke of Ayres with a Triplicitie of Musicke, no. 19, Confirmed with A booke of Ayres with a triplicitie of musicke by John Bartlet, Printed by John Windet, for John Browne and are to bee sold at his shoppe in Saint Dunstan's Churchyard in Fleet Street, London 1606.

Text Authorship:

• by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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Researcher for this page: Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2024-11-05
Line count: 35
Word count: 232