"As I laye a-thynkynge" is the last poem written by "
Thomas Ingoldsby
Richard Harris Barham (6 December 1788 – 17 June 1845) was an English cleric of the Church of England, a novelist and a humorous poet. He was known generally by his pseudonym Thomas Ingoldsby and as the author of ''The Ingoldsby Legends''.
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Richard Barham
Richard Harris Barham (6 December 1788 – 17 June 1845) was an English cleric of the Church of England, a novelist and a humorous poet. He was known generally by his pseudonym Thomas Ingoldsby and as the author of ''The Ingoldsby Legends''.
...
). It was set to music by the English composer
Edward Elgar
Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, (; 2 June 1857 – 23 February 1934) was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestr ...
.
The song was published in 1888 by Beare & Son, 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
A hauberk or byrnie is a shirt of mail. The term is usually used to describe a shirt reaching at least to mid-thigh and including sleeves. Haubergeon ("little hauberk") generally refers to the quilted undergarment used with a hauberk, but the terms ...
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
[Old English, meaning 'It is to no advantage'] 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)
External links
*
Recordings
Songs and Piano Music by Edward ElgarPremiere recording of "As I laye a-thynkynge" performed by Amanda Pitt (soprano), with David Owen Norris (piano).
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Songs by Edward Elgar
1888 songs