It was a time when silly bees could speake - Dowland, John

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⌛ Period → Renaissance ◈ Genre → Madrigals

♯ Key G minor

⁄ Time Signature 2/2

♬ Voicing → SATB

◆ Difficulty

Elementary

↕ Range F2 – E-5

¶ Language → English

Measures 23

Texture mixed texture

Parts 4

Instruments A cappella

Pages 2

CPDL # 41709

Editor Sabine Cassola

Posted 2016-11-05

License CPDL License

♫Pitch Ranges

MusicXML Part

F2 – B-3

¶Lyrics / Text

It was a time when silly bees could speak, And in that time I was a silly bee, Who fed on time until my heart 'gan break, Yet never found the time would favour me. Of all the swarm I only did not thrive, Yet brought I wax and honey to the hive. Then thus I buzzed when time no sap would give: Why should this blessed time to me be dry, Sith by this time the lazy drone doth live, The wasp, the worm, the gnat, the butterfly? Mated with grief I kneeled on my knees, And thus complained unto the king of bees: My liege, gods grant thy time may never end, And yet vouchsafe to hear my plaint of time, Which fruitless flies have found to have a friend, And I cast down when atomies do climb. The king replied but thus: Peace, peevish bee, Thou'rt bound to serve the time, the time not thee.