Song Cycle by John Ireland (1879-1962)

1. Beckon to me to come

Authorship

by Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) , "Lover to mistress", from Human Shows, Far Phantasies, Songs, and Trifles, published 1925

Beckon to me to come
With handkerchief or hand,
Or finger mere or thumb;
Let forecasts be but rough,
Parents more bleak than bland
	'Twill be enough
	Maid mine,
	'Twill be enough!

Two fields, a wood, a tree,
Nothing now more malign
Lies between you and me;
But were they bysm, or bluff,
Or snarling sea, one sign
	Would be enough
	Maid mine,
	Would be enough!

2. In my sage moments

Authorship

by Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) , "Come not: yet Come!", from Human Shows, Far Phantasies, Songs, and Trifles, published 1925, copyright ©

In my sage moments I can say
 [ ... ]

3. It was what you bore with you, Woman

Authorship

by Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) , "Without, not within her", from Late Lyrics and Earlier with Many Other Verses, published 1922

It was what you bore with you, Woman,
Not inly were,
That throned you from all else human,
However fair!

It was that strange freshness you carried
Into a soul
Whereon no thought of yours tarried
Two moments at all.

And out from his spirit flew death,
And bale, and ban,
Like the corn-chaff under the breath
of the winnowing-fan.

4. The tragedy of that moment

Authorship

by Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) , "That moment", from Human Shows, Far Phantasies, Songs, and Trifles, published 1925, copyright ©

The tragedy of that moment
 [ ... ]

5. Dear, think not that they will forget you

Authorship

by Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) , "Her temple", from Late Lyrics and Earlier with Many Other Verses, published 1922

See other settings of this text

Dear, think not that they will forget you:
- If craftsmanly art should be mine
I will build up a temple, and set you
		Therein as its shrine.

They may say: "Why a woman such honour?"
- Be told, "O so sweet was her fame,
That a man heaped this splendour upon her;
		None now knows his name."

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