John Dowland - It was a time when silly bees could speak | Dowland's Foundry

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It was a time when silly bees could speak by John Dowland (1563-1626)
Book 3, No. 18

Performed in The Old Library at Magdalen College Oxford from an original print of John Dowland's Book 3 of Songs and Ayres, 1600

Dowland's Foundry:
Sam Brown - Lute
Gwen Martin - Soprano
@clemmiefranks1023 - Alto
@DanielThomsonTenor
Timothy Dickinson - Bass

@magdalencollegeoxford9433

Recording:
Tom Mungall

With thanks to Dr Lucy Gwynn, The President and Fellows of Magdalen College, The Communications Office of Magdalen College, The Golsoncott Foundation, Dame Emma Kirkby, Michelle Castelletti & Oxford Festival of the Arts

Text:
It was a time when silly bees could speak,
And in that time I was a silly bee,
Who fed on time until my heart 'gan break,
Yet never found the time would favour me,
Of all the swarm I only did not thrive,
Yet brought I wax and honey to the hive.

Then thus I buzz'd, when time no sap would give,
Why should this blessed time to me be dry,
Sith by this time the lazy drone doth live,
The wasp, the worm, the gnat, the butterfly,
Mated* with grief, I kneeled on my knees,
And thus complain'd unto the king of bees:

"My liege, gods grant thy time may never end,
And yet vouchsafe to hear my plaint of time,
Which fruitless flies have found to have a friend,
And I cast down when atomies* do climb",
The king replied but thus, "Peace peevish bee,
Thou'rt bound to serve the time, the time not thee."

*Mated meaning joined or paired together with grief
*Atomies as in specks, mites or tiny beings

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