Jun 1, 2014
This beautiful song tune was discovered in the Henry Atkinson manuscript and it seems to be of Scottish origin. The song tells the tale of a young shepherdess who, in heartbroken distress, calls to the nymphs to tell her love Strephon that she died because of his betrayal. As Strephon passes through the forest, he notices the shepherdess “sleeping” - but soon realises this is not the case. He calls to the nymphs to work their art and bring her back to life, but alas they cannot. Struck with grief, he lies down to die on the breast of his shepherdess.