This poet sings the Trojan wars (Anacreon's Defeat), Z 423 (Henry Purcell)

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• (Posted 2016-09-28)  CPDL #41266:   

Editor: Gareth Thomas (submitted 2016-09-28).   Score information: A4, 3 pages, 84 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Continuo realisation and accidentals in brackets are editorial. Spelling, figured bass and key signatures modernised.

• CPDL #17168:   

Contributor: David Newman (submitted 2008-06-08).  Score information: A4, 7 pages, 248 kB   Copyright: Public Domain

Edition notes: A scan of Arkwright's edition, with realized accompaniment

General Information

Title: Anacreon's Defeat
Composer: Henry Purcell
Lyricist: Anonymous

Number of voices: 1v   Voicing: Bass solo

Genre: Secular, Art song

Language: English
Instruments: Basso continuo or Piano

{{Published}} is obsolete (code commented out), replaced with {{Pub}} for works and {{PubDatePlace}} for publications.

Description:

External websites:

• "Six Purcell Songs" (1901) at Google Books
• Resources for this work at Art Song Central

Original text and translations

English text

This poet sings the Trojan wars,
Another of the Theban jars,
In rattling numbers, verse that dares.

Whilst I, in soft and humble verse,
My own captivities rehearse;
I sing my own defeats, which are
Not the events of common war.

Not fleets at sea have vanquish’d me,
Nor brigadiers, nor cavalry,
Nor ranks and files of infantry.

No, Anacreon still defies
All your artillery companies
Save those encamp’d in killing eyes;
Each dart his mistress shoots, he dies.