BENJAMIN BRITTEN Sacred and Profane Eight Medieval Lyrics Op. gt for unaccompanied voices Faber Music Ltd 3 Queen Square London WEIN 3AU Bareneiter-Veriag, Kasil G. Schirmer Inc, New YorkThe lyrics and how to pronounce them ‘The byries The lyrics printed here on pp, iv-vii were originally written down by hand in a variety of manuscripts, Ooly limited editorial alterations have been made ia spelling (aa to lace some symbols that are not in use today) and scarcely any attempt hav betn made to {just whet may often be a scribe's inconsistent personal spelling or to standardize spelling: ioe that varied over some two centuri’s. Punctuation, the use of capitals and, in some cases, stanza atid line arrangements are artly or wholly editorial. Nothing is known of any of the authors except St. Godric who, having been in his early ae a sort of pedlar and pilgrim, became a hermit at Finchale, raat Wachee where he died in 1 #70. ‘All che poems can be found with some ene hundred and cighty more and an intraduc- tion, notes and glosses in Medieval English Lyrics: a Critical dnshelogy, edited by R. T. vies, publes by Faber & Faber. For her philological help we are gréatly in debt to Joyce Bazire, of the Department of English Language in the University of Liverpool. Pronunciation Singers who do not know medieval English are recommended first to consult the transla tions in modem English beside the original texts on pp. iv-vil, Then, having assimilated the meaning of the words, to tura tothe music, where singers will find laid out immediately beneath the medieval texts a complete guide to their pronunciation. This lower text gives phonetic equivalents iv italic axpe for ‘tee syllables or words for whick modern English Pronunciation would not provide the correct sound. For all syllables or words in roman type, modera English pronunciation is appropriate and hould be used. Where a phonetic symbol is added in the lower text, the explanation of it will be found in the tabl Symbol ay ik tu{French) toch (Seats) ge eaywans, =1. St. Godric's Hymna pager Sainte Marye Virgins, Moder Jesu Christes Nazarene, Onfo, schild, belp thin Godric, Onfang, bring heyilich with thee in Godes \e. Sainte Marye, Christes bur, Maidenes clenhad, moderes Aur, Dilie min sine, rix in mim mod, Bring me to Wirne with the self God, 5h, Mary, the Firgin, Masher af Feras Christ of Nazareth, Receive, defied and kelp thy Gecric, (and) Kavi received (hin) bring (Riss) on high swith shee in God's Kingdom. St, Mary, Christ's bower, Virgin among maidens, frtoer of masherheed, Blot out my cin, reign tm my hears, (and) ring me to Bliss ith chat pelfiame God. 2. Tmon wane wod page 4 Foweles in the frith, ‘The fisses in the fiod, And I mon waxe wed: Muleh sorw L walke with For beste of bon and bled, Birdrin the wood, The fink inthe river, And Tvauts go weed: Mack sorrow J live with For the best of creatures afitee. 3. Lenten is come page é Lenten is come with love to towne, ‘With blosmen and with briddes roune ‘That ail this bjisse bringeeh. ‘Duyeseyes in this dalea, ‘Notes swete of nightegales, Uch fowl song singeth. ‘The thresteleok him threteth oo. Away is hucce winter wo ‘When woderofe springeth. ‘This fowles singeth ferly fele, And sliteth on huere wynne wele, ‘Thatall the wode ringeth. ‘The rose railetis hire rade, ‘The leves on the lighte mode Waxen all with wille, ‘The mone mandeth hire ble, ‘The liipe is lossom tose, ‘The fennel and the fille, Wowes this wilde drakes, Miles murgeth huere makes, Spring Bas come toith rv among ai, flowers and with she sang of birds, That brings all ehis happiness. The soccer asces of mightingales, Each bird sings a s0xp. The shrsesd wrangles all the time, Gane is their winter woe When the woodruff springs. There Siri sing, ewoaderfully merry, And warble im thair abounding joy, Se shar all she sooed ring. The rose pats on her rosy fice, The Jeaves ix the bright trod AU grate with pleastre. The moon sends aus hee radiance, The diy ts mite, The sewnel and che wild akyms, These wild draker make live, Animals (7) cBeer their mates,Ase strem that stelieth stille, Mody meneth; so. doth mo; Ichot ich am on af tho For love that likes ille, ‘The mone mandeth hire light, ‘Sodoth thesemly sonne bright, ‘When briddes singeth breme. Deawes donketh the dounes, ‘Deores with huere derne rownes Domes for to deme. ‘Wermes woweth under clouds, Wimmen waxeth wounder proude, ‘Sowell tt wol hem seme, ‘Yef me shall wonte wille ofon, ‘This wunne wele I wole forgon, And wit in wode be fleme, Lie a serem shat foe fly. ‘The passionate man complains, as dp more: Thaw thar am one of those Thar is unbeppy for Jews. ‘The moan sema's que fer fight, So does she fair, bright sua, When birds sing gloriowsly. Drews more does, Animals with sheir secren cries For telling their tales. a seake lous xader ground, ‘omen grow exeedingly prond, Semel cal ites Uf Iden'rheve what I came sfone, AU shit happiness Ivill dbardon, And quickly in the woods be a fugitine, 4. ‘The long night page 14 a it evstule sumer ilast, ith les eran pea blast, And weder teas eet ley! what this night is Reda ith welled aoagy Soregh and murne and fast. Pleasant itis, while summer lasts, With che birds' song. But nee the Baw of the wind drates sigh en i! ioe is mighs is, ‘dnd I, eoith very grat coven, Serrow and mour and fase. 5, Yif ic of lave can page 18 Whanne icse on Rede fesu, my lemman, ee evden him stenden And his tig istrongen, ‘And hicaste dstungen, For the live of man; Wellou ic w wepen, And sinnes for to leten, YVific of huve can, Yific of luve can, Yific of luve can, When I see on she Cross Faru, my lever, And beside kim stand Mary and Foky, dnd his back scourge, ‘dad his side pierced, Far she dees of' wan, Well ewghrT to weep cdind sins 19 abandon, Af Thnow of love, “Fimow of love, if F know of love,6. Carol page 2 Maiden inthe morlay, Tn the mor bay; Sevenight fulle, Sevenight fulle, Maiden in the mor lay; In the moe lay, Sevenightes fulleand a day, ‘Welle was hire mese, ‘What was hire mete? ‘The primerole and the— ‘The primercle and the— ‘Welle was hire mete_ ‘What was hire mete? The primercle and the vielet. ‘Welle was hire dring. ‘What was hire dring? ‘The childe water of the ‘The chelde water of the— ‘Welle was hire dring. ‘Wiiatiwed Risealtig The chelde water of the weile-spring. ‘Welle was hire bowr. What was bire hawt? The rede rose and the— The rede rose and the — Welle was hire bow, ‘What was hire bow? Therederoge and thelilye four, A maiden lay on the moor, ay on she muvoe 5 A full coeek, A full week, ndiden fay om the moar; Laty am she moran, A fail week and a day. Good was her food. What war her food? The primrose amd the— The primrose aad the— Gonid wits her food. Hi has eas her food ? The primrare and the violee, Goed tas her drink. What was her drink? The cold water of the— The esta water of the— Crod wal her drink, Whar svar her drink P The cold water of the well-spring, Goad was her bower. Whatwos her bower ? The red rose and the— Phevted rase and sho Good war der bower. What wat her dower? The red rose aod the Glyflower. 7. Yethat pasen by pagez7 ‘Ye that pasen by the weiye, Abidet¢ ittleatounde, Beboldet, all my felawes, ‘Yef any me lik is founde. To the Tre with nailes thre Wol fase [hi boundes With aspere all thoru my side To mine herte is mad a wounde. ‘Fan thar pass by the way, Bay a litele while. Bekald, ail my feilotes, Tf ny she wee is found, Te che Tree sink three maite Mort farr J hang bound; Wha spear all through any side Tawny Acart i made a wrasend:8. Adeath page 30 Wanne mine eyhnen mister, And ining horen aisaen, ‘And my nose coldet, And my tunge foldet, And my radeslaket, And mine lippes blaken, And mp muth grennet,. And my spotel rennet, And mine her riset, And mine herte priser, And mine honden bivien, And mine fet stivien— Ale bate! al to late! Wanne the bere is ate gate, Thanne | schel flute From bedde to fiore, From flore to here, pie pete ib rom bere to pastte, And te putt fordut. Thanne Iyd mine hus uppe mine nose, OFal this world ne give Lita pese! Ar heis my eyes ger meaty, udised my cars are full af hissing, see waee my seme folds, fined my face goes slack, dnd any lips blackew, dnd may mouth grins, Ave ony spduala rams, And way hair rises, died ey Aart rrembles, And my Aandi shake, ted ay, fet fee Ait ioe fate ! wll tos bate! Frhem the bier is os she pate, Then J shall pase Frew bed se Bose, From ficor so shromd, Kroes shroud co Bier, From bier i grave, dad the rave will Be clotted up. Then revs sry Base spony ate. Forthe whole worid f don't care ane jae,Rov PB and ahe Fike Cormare Sacred and Profane RIGHT MEDIEVAL LYRICSFowsbesiaibe hit, The fiarciath: fod, Fowdesiamhefiih, The fescsin ie Med, Fovcbcaintiehid, The ‘Fieleesinéefah, The Seserintte AM Revesinticliih TAs feteainibe OM Fanlesiatheltity, The (ah, Te Meco ie Se— Fombainda 6k, ‘Te fesainiie Iok Fenians fi, “The teaeeinte OM Aehesindke Sin, The Mesias fi NGl-eiotbe Tee trees he Teeoarm aeis 33 £4 i 3 j dd a I cy i wal | tent4 Lenten is come {ier jdthlearter 14 comme) Cotsen ie cnsue wii avem poune, Hevea oie wihiie 2 ea, Wik Mocsenand wititrigdes mane, ‘Tha this livacbcinzete th bitae-reen anid with borides rete —__ ‘That this blis-scbelegeth,‘Thethrestel- cok Nem duresteth co. ‘Thettes-tel- cok Blum skrasr-sedh as. i is sth This, uw = sch alay~ aah Waar aideeweapgeh ey ek Pee fats Sanger ‘Aid, widaeth a lager ~ © Andasee-ietb coke = &—— Sy, Themes mein Thendmtantch ire LP Se oe Rheet— bemebess,12 33 litt as i cit la Ee All] 83 a i > ae —— a”4 The long night (Bari 13h cerry)mtiecheeth wind » esa, And wedeseecg, ant mBinsinh-rf wind - edly, AbY eidirskerg, tat wa-de, we - wader, «wd = dey sreng,_—_ seog,—— unag,__ oad tad - der, otwoe eghandmer-neand ver = and mor neaadJe ~55 1p Ieov-man, ‘Fe-oxy seve leen-rracty de Je-ausaner lemmas, -é@Jer, ey ke-wan, Tess, nec lern-man, =—t = 1ei EEFlowing—wish parody! rd =nS=a => pe ‘Welle reve meee. Wht waritire mete?__ The Welle was Avera. Wet washeer mats? The nf —=- Welk was hive mee Wht rae hire mee? De “Welle was heer war, Whuaeas wr auc? ‘Te The priwme-colle uadthe The -ste-ruln ard the— ‘The ree meu wad the— ‘The jroc morale alike — Te pormenole andtbe The pel-mesole and de h SSeS AieaArie? img? ‘Whar vasiiver ring) Wha vashire Wha wachire dr Woke wasdver cing WBE warner Welle wanlre dring —__Welle wos hire boat, tir wr, Welle was Ke bows. Wrote vas hc bor Webern bar ‘Welle wes hac door, Webe i h pid a ‘Welle was hire how, ‘Welle wareer 68,Chie Moh connory? 7 Ye that pasen byi blk -; Seppe blokeEs1 whl flu ~ ce Frmberse wm purrs, ‘beret wo pure, And te putt 1%, Aad fet tren! see fie SNe Beoen Saleem pte, freakin a SPP as Frembere pote fiambers parm Ande gun Timmins © parsettombane w pire, Andie fit fy eee ae a earl Frombere 1 putri,fiom kere Frombsire to p61 oefrimbsire tafl. a a Hall || hl || iy ae = (it | af | ‘ nil a ta La A 28 i re <= || (a: ai peli Ge ll ge ii au wil aa cit / AlN | ARE RH] He i aa lpaa aa] Aq Oe ENC ii soil sss Ul fAae or