      This English madrigal is rich with wordpainting.  Notice the words descending and ascending.  The music delivers ascending and descending scales painting the text.  Also the text First two by two is painted by two voices.  Similarly, then three by three together is painted by three voices.  This is a very thick texture because there are six voices rather than the more common four.    Lastly, notice the long note in the bass on the word long. 
     The mood of this madrigal is strikingly different from the more severe sacred motets of the same period.  Word painting does not play a major role in this quick paced madrigal.  An example of clever word painting can be found in a discussion of Song of the Birds by the French chanson composer, Jannequin (Topic 3 in the Classroom).