by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Translation possibly by Thomas Morley (1557 - 1602)

Now is the month of Maying 
 (Sung text for setting by T. Morley)
 Matches original text
Language: English  after the Italian (Italiano) 
Our translations:  DUT SPA
Now is the month of maying,
When merry lads are playing, fa la,
Each with his bonny lass
Upon the greeny grass. Fa la.

The Spring, clad all in gladness,
Doth laugh at Winter's sadness, fa la,
And to the bagpipe's sound
The nymphs tread out their ground. Fa la

Fie then! why sit we musing,
Youth's sweet delight refusing? Fa la.
Say dainty nymphs, and speak,
Shall we play barley-break? Fa la.

Composition:

Text Authorship:

  • possibly by Thomas Morley (1557 - 1602), first published 1595 [an adaptation]

Based on:

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Lidy van Noordenburg) , "Lofzang op Mei", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • SPA Spanish (Español) (Javier Conte-Grand) , "Ya llegó el mes de celebraciones", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Lidy van Noordenburg

This text was added to the website: 2008-10-20
Line count: 12
Word count: 73