As I laye a-thynkynge
# As I laye a-thynkynge

As I laye a-thynkynge (Mentre giaccio pensando) è l'ultima poesia scritta da "Thomas Ingoldsby" (Richard Barham), messa in musica dal compositore inglese Edward Elgar nel 1888.

## Storia

La canzone fu pubblicata nel 1888 da Beare & Son, ma potrebbe essere stata scritta nell'anno precedente. È una canzone per soprano o tenore.

## Versi

Elgar ha omesso i due versi racchiusi tra parentesi quadre [ ] - il quinto e il sesto versetto della poesia.

AS I LAYE A-THYNKYNGE

    As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge,
    Merrie sang the Birde as she sat upon the spraye!
       There came a noble Knyghte,
       With his hauberke shynynge brighte,
       And his gallant heart was lyghte,
             Free and gaye;
    As I laye a-thynkynge, he rode upon his waye.
    As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge,
    Sadly sang the Birde as she sat upon the tree!
       There seemed a crimson plain,
       Where a gallant Knyghte lay slayne,
       And a steed with broken rein
             Ran free,
    As I laye a-thynkynge, most pitiful to see!
    As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge,
    Merrie sang the Birde as she sat upon the boughe;
       A lovely Mayde came by,
       And a gentil youth was nyghe,
       And he breathed many a syghe
             And a vowe;
    As I laye a-thynkynge, her heart was gladsome now.
    As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge,
    Sadly sang the Birde as she sat upon the thorne;
       No more a youth was there,
       But a Maiden rent her haire,
       And cried out in sad despaire,
             'That I was borne!'
    As I laye a-thynkynge, she perished forlorne.
    [ As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge,
    Sweetly sang the Birde as she sat upon the briar;
       There came a lovely Childe,
       And his face was meek and mild,
       Yet joyously he smiled
             On his sire;
    As I laye a-thynkynge, a Cherub mote admire.
    But I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge,
    And sadly sang the Birde as it perch'd upon a bier;
       That joyous smile was gone,
       And that face was white and wan,
       As the downe upon the Swan
             Doth appear
    As I laye a-thynkynge - oh! bitter flow'd the tear! ]
    As I laye a-thynkynge the golden sun was sinking,
    O merrie sang that Birde as it glittered on her breast
       With a thousand gorgeous dyes,
       While soaring to the skies,
       'Mid the stars she seem'd to rise,
             As to her nest;
    As I laye a-thynkynge, her meaning was exprest:-
       'Follow, follow me away,
       It boots not to delay,'-
       'Twas so she seem'd to saye,
             'HERE IS REST!'
                                     T. I.

## Ascolto online

* Songs and Piano Music by Edward Elgar Prima registrazione di "As I laye a-thynkynge" eseguita da Amanda Pitt (soprano), con David Owen Norris (pianoforte).
