I follow, lo, the footing

Thomas Morley was a prominent composer of the English madrigal tradition. This secular work for SSATB voices explores the theme of unrequited love with vivid imagery. The text describes a lover pursuing a cruel but beautiful beloved who flees into the woods, mocking his affections. Despite the chase, the singer remains determined to catch her, highlighting the ardour and persistence of his pursuit. The music would undoubtedly reflect the urgency and passion of the words, typical of the sophisticated part-song writing of the late Renaissance.