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As I laye a-thynkynge
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Wikipedia article
"'As I laye a-thynkynge'" is the last poem written by "Thomas Ingoldsby" (Richard Barham). It was set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar.
The song was published in 1888 by Beare & Son,John Beare was a London-based music publisher and brother-in-law of Elgar's friend Dr. Charles Buck of Settle in Yorkshire though may have been written in the previous year. It is a song for soprano or tenor.
Lyrics
Elgar omitted the two verses enclosed in square brackets [ ] the fifth and sixth verses of the poem.
AS I LAYE A-THYNKYNGE
:As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge,
:Merrie sang the Birde as she sat upon the spraye!
::There came a noble Knyghte,
::With his hauberke shynynge brighte,
::And his gallant heart was lyghte,
::::Free and gaye;
:As I laye a-thynkynge, he rode upon his waye.
:As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge,
:Sadly sang the Birde as she sat upon the tree!
::There seemed a crimson plain,
::Where a gallant Knyghte lay slayne,
::And a steed with broken rein
::::Ran free,
:As I laye a-thynkynge, most pitiful to see!
:As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge,
:Merrie sang the Birde as she sat upon the boughe;
::A lovely Mayde came by,
::And a gentil youth was nyghe,
::And he breathed many a syghe
::::And a vowe;
:As I laye a-thynkynge, her heart was gladsome now.
:As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge,
:Sadly sang the Birde as she sat upon the thorne;
::No more a youth was there,
::But a Maiden rent her haire,
::And cried out in sad despaire,
::::'That I was borne!'
:As I laye a-thynkynge, she perished forlorne.
:[ As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge,
:Sweetly sang the Birde as she sat upon the briar;
::There came a lovely Childe,
::And his face was meek and mild,
::Yet joyously he smiled
::::On his sire;
:As I laye a-thynkynge, a Cherub mote admire.
:But I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge,
:And sadly sang the Birde as it perch'd upon a bier;
::That joyous smile was gone,
::And that face was white and wan,
::As the downe upon the Swan
::::Doth appear
:As I laye a-thynkynge - oh! bitter flow'd the tear! ]
:As I laye a-thynkynge the golden sun was sinking,
:O merrie sang that Birde as it glittered on her breast
::With a thousand gorgeous dyes,
::While soaring to the skies,
::'Mid the stars she seem'd to rise,
::::As to her nest;
:As I laye a-thynkynge, her meaning was exprest:-
::'Follow, follow me away,
::It boots not to delay,'-
::'Twas so she seem'd to saye,
::::'HERE IS REST!'
::::::::::::T. I.
Notes
References
*Banfield, Stephen, 'Sensibility and English Song: Critical studies of the early 20th century' (Cambridge University Press, 1985)
*Kennedy, Michael, 'Portrait of Elgar' (Oxford University Press, 1968)
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