A silly sylvan, kissing heav'n-born fire (John Wilbye)

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  • CPDL #24457:  [ Icon_pdf.gif] [ Icon_snd.gif] [ Capella]
Editor: James Gibb (submitted 2011-09-12).   Score information: A4, 6 pages, 62 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: transposed up a semitone.

General Information

Title: A silly sylvan, kissing heav'n-born fire
Composer: John Wilbye

Number of voices: 5vv   Voicing: SSATB

Genre: SecularMadrigal

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

Published: 1609

Description: No. 26 from The 2nd Set of Madrigals.

External websites:

Original text and translations

English.png English text

A silly sylvan, kissing heav'n-born fire,
Scorched his lips for his so fond desire:
I, not so fond, but gaz'd whilst such fire burned,
And all my heart straight into flames was turned.
The sylvan justly suffer'd for his kiss,
His fire was stol'n and stol'n things go amiss;
But I, alas! unjstly for to have her,
Her heav'nly fire the gods and graces gave her.