title: As I laye a-thynkynge
text: # 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).
  