To keep my gentle Bessy (Thomas Arne)

Music files

L E G E N D

Disclaimer

How to download

ICON	SOURCE
	Web Page
	File details
	Help

• (Posted 2025-03-27)  CPDL #84331: 

Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2025-03-27).   Score information: A4, 5 pages, 153 kB   Copyright: CC BY SA

Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download. This edition includes the instrumental accompaniment.

• (Posted 2025-03-27)  CPDL #84330: 

Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2025-03-27).   Score information: A4, 5 pages, 102 kB   Copyright: CC BY SA

Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download. This edition includes a keyboard only version of the original instrumental accompaniment.

General Information

Title: To keep my gentle Bessy
Composer: Thomas Arne
Lyricist: (?) Robert Dodsley^{create page}
Number of voices: 1v   Voicing: solo high
Genre: Secular, Aria

Language: English
Instruments: Keyboard, violin

First published: 1762
Description: A song written for the dramatic farce of The Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green, 1741. This version published in Clio and Euterpe, or British Harmony.

Original text and translations

English text

To keep my gentle Bessy,
What labour would seem hard?
Each toilsome task how easy!
Her love the sweet reward.
The bee, thus uncomplaining,
Esteems no toil severe,
The sweet reward obtaining,
Of honey all the year.