William Alwyn: Songs of Experience (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


The modest rose puts forth a thorn,
The humble sheep a threatening horn, 
While the lily white shall in love delight, 
Nor a thorn nor a threat stain her beauty bright.

2. The poison tree

Language: English

Authorship

William Blake (1757-1827)

Songs of Innocence and Experience

Songs of Experience

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Available translations (or transliterations, if applicable):

FRE

French


I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I water'd it in fears,
Night & morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright.
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine.

And into my garden stole
When the night had veil'd the pole,
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretch'd beneath the tree.

3. Sunflower

Language: English

Authorship

William Blake (1757-1827)

Songs of Innocence and Experience

Songs of Experience

See other settings of this text

Available translations (or transliterations, if applicable):

FRE

French


Ah, Sun-flower! weary of time,
Who countest the steps of the Sun;
Seeking after that sweet golden clime,
Where the traveller's journey is done:

Where the Youth pined away with desire,
And the pale Virgin shrouded in snow,
Arise from their graves and aspire
Where my Sun-flower wishes to go.

4. The rose tree

Language: English

Authorship

William Blake (1757-1827)

Songs of Innocence and Experience

Songs of Experience

See other settings of this text


A flower was offered to me;
Such a flower as May never bore.
But I said I've a Pretty Rose-tree!
And I passed the sweet flower o'er.

Then I went to my Pretty Rose-tree;
To tend her by day and by night.
But my Rose turnd away with jealousy:
And her thorns were my only delight.