This edition was prepared by Jason Smart — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
I smile to see how you devise
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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I smile to see how you devise by Anonymous — Lyrics
I smile to see how you devise,
new masking nets my eyes to blear:
Your self you cannot so disguise:
but as you are, you must appear.
Your privy winks at board I see
and how you set your roving mind:
Your self you cannot hide from me,
although I wink, I am not blind.
The secret sighs and fainéd cheer,
that oft doth pain thy careful breast:
To me right plainly doth appear,
I see in whom thy heart doth rest.
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About I smile to see how you devise
This secular SATB partsong by an anonymous composer is a witty exploration of knowing glances and feigned emotions. The text humorously reveals the singer's awareness of another's attempts to conceal their true feelings, whether through 'masking nets' or 'privy winks'. The music would suit a light-hearted moment in a concert programme, perhaps at a social gathering or even a summer fête, where its clever word-setting can be fully appreciated. The composer's skill lies in conveying the lyrical subtlety through the interplay of the four voices, creating a delightful musical commentary on human nature.
