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Once when fair Phyllis was a little thirsty

Once when fair Phyllis
Was a little thirsty,
She took a sip of wine
From a dainty wine glass.
What was left became ice
A quite miraculous white.

The shepherd Corydon
Was standing nearby
And immediately thought:
It’ll chill your little heart.
Now his heart burns
Fiercely with love’s fire.

So he steps forward
To put out his fire,
He takes her little glass
And drinks the frosted wine.
Its ice makes his fire
Burn even more furiously.

Cupid laughs at this,
Saying: "Just as I thought...
Do you understand now
What my cunning can do,
Even if you kiss cold ice
It’ll burn you even more?

English translation by Paul Archer of the text of Als Filli zart eins etwas durstig ward by Johann Hermann Schein (1586-1630). Published in Musica boscareccia, Ander Theil, Leipzig (1626).
See the copyright notice below.

Als Filli zart eins etwas durstig ward

Als Filli zart
Eins etwas durstig ward,
Tranck sie von Wein
Auß einem Gläselein.
Was blieb, das wurd zu Eiß
Gantz wunderbahrer weiß.

Hirt Coridon
Stand nicht gar weit davon,
Gedacht alsbald:
Das macht jhr Hertzlein kalt.
Nun brand so ungehewr
Sein Hertz vor Liebesfewr.

Hinzu er kam
Zu löschen seine Flamm,
Nahm's Gläselein,
Tranck auß den gfrornen Wein.
Von solchem Eiß sich mehrt
Sein flamm gantz unerhört.

Deß lacht Amor
Sprach: das wußt ich zuvor
Verstehst du nun,
Was meine List kann tun,
Das auch kalt Eiß zur Buß
Dich noch mehr brennen muß?

Recording. Christine Maria Rembeck. United Continuo Ensemble.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbE8U0hLtLk

Copyright notice. The translation is provided as an aid to musicians and audiences. Publication of the translation in print or digital formats is expressly forbidden unless permission from the author has been first obtained and acknowledgement of authorship is duly made. Permission will usually be granted so please contact Paul Archer with details of how you wish to make use of the translation.

For more translations into English of early music texts, go to:
Translations of early music texts.

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