Testo Orfeo / Nathan's Reel

there was a king lived in the west,
green the woods so early,
of all the harpers he was the best,
where the hart goes yearly.

the king he has a-hunting gone,
green the woods so early,
and left his lady all alone, where the hart goes yearly.

the king of faerie with his dart,
green the woods so early,
has pierced the lady to the heart,
where the hart goes yearly.

so after them the king has gone,
green the woods so early,
until he came to a large grey stone,
where the hart goes yearly.

and he took out his harp to play.
first he played the notes of pain,
and all their hearts were weary, then he played the faerie reel,
and all their hearts were cheery.

the king of faerie, with his rout,
green the woods so early,
has gone to hunt him all about,
where the hart goes yearly.

“come ye into the faerie hall,
green the woods so early,
and play your harp amongst us all,”
where the hart goes yearly.

and he pulled out his harp to play.
first he played the notes of pain,
and all their hearts were weary,
then he played the faerie reel,
and all their hearts were cheery.

“oh what shall i give you for your play?”
green the woods so early,
“oh let me take my lady away.”
where the hart goes yearly.

the faerie king said “be it so,
green the woods so early,
take her by the hand and go.”
where the hart goes yearly.

and he took out his harp to play.
first he played the notes of pain,
and all their hearts were weary,
then he played the faerie reel,
and all their hearts were cheery.