Infelix ego - Quid igitur faciam? - Ad te igitur (William Byrd)
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- CPDL #3888:
Sibelius 2.
- Editor: David Fraser (added 2002-07-30). Score information: A4, 25 pages, 251 kbytes Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes: Revised Feb 2006; please use in preference to my earlier edition(s). Part II begins p. 10, Part III begins p. 16.
General Information
Title: Infelix ego
Composer: William Byrd
Number of voices: 6vv Voicing: SATTBarB
Genre: Sacred, Motets
Language: Latin
Instruments: none, a cappella
Published: Cantiones Sacrae II (1591), nos. 24-26
Description: Motet in three parts.
- Prima pars: Infelix ego
- Secunda pars: Quid igitur faciam
- Tertia pars: Ad te igitur
A setting of the beginning of the Meditation on the Miserere by Girolamo Savonarola (1452-98), written the day before his execution for heresy.
External websites:
Text and translations
Latin text
Text (or link to a text page) needs to be added.
English translation
How unhappy I feel: there is no one I can ask for help, as I have broken the laws of both earth and heaven. So which way can I turn? Who can I run to? Who will take pity on me? I dare not look up to heaven, as I have sinned against it grievously. I can find no refuge on earth, as I have been a scandal to it also.
What then can I do? Despair? I shall not. God is merciful, my Saviour will take pity on me. Then God alone shall be my refuge, he will not despise the work of his own hands, his own image he will not turn away.
To you then, most merciful God, I come in sadness and penitence. You are my only hope, my only refuge. But what can I say to you? Since I dare not look up to heaven, let me pour out words of sorrow, let me beg for your mercy and say:
Have mercy on me, according to your infinite loving kindness.
(translation by Mick Swithinbank)