Lay a garland on my hearse

General information

Lyricists: Francis Beaumont & John Fletcher.

Settings by composers

• Charles Hubert Hastings Parry T solo
• Robert Lucas Pearsall SSAATTBB (1st person changed to 3rd person feminine in text)

Texts and Translations

English text Lay a garland on my[her] hearse, Of the[...] dismal yew, Maidens, willow branches bear, Say I[she] died true. My[Her] love was false, but I[she] was firm From my[her] hour of birth; Upon my buried body lie Lightly, gentle earth. Note: The words inside the brackets indicate alterations to the original poem by Beaumont and Fletcher in the Pearsall version. The word "thou" in the last line has been added in the composition.

German translation Legt den Kranz von dunkler Eibe sachte auf ihr Grab; Weidenzweige bringt, ihr Mädchen, sagt, wie treu sie starb. Untreu war ihr Lieb, doch sie war aufrecht immerzu. Ihren Leib, o Erde, bette sanft zur ew'gen Ruh. Poetic translation released under the CPDL license by Jan-Frerk Burmester. The translator would appreciate feedback if you use his translations - please email: jf.burmester  web.de