A leave-taking (Tabley, set by W. Alwyn) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


 Kneel not and leave me: mirth is in its grave.
 True friend, sweet words were ours, sweet words decay;
 Believe, the perfume once this violet gave
 Lives - lives no more, though mute tears answer nay.
 Break off delay!

 Dead, Love is dead! Ay, canceled all his due.
 We say he mocks repose - we cannot tell -
 Close up his eyes and crown his head with rue,
 Say in his ear, sweet Love, farewell! farewell!
 A last low knell.

 Forbear to move him. Peace, why should we stay?
 Go back no more to listen for his tread.
 Resume our old calm face of every day:
 Not all our kneeling turns that sacred head
 Long dear, Long Dead!

Authorship

Warren John Byrne Leicester, Baron de Tabley (1835-1895)

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

William Alwyn (1905-1985)

A leave-taking

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

Gentle Reminder

This project is not funded. If you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your gift is greatly appreciated!
- Emily

I also have a wishlist at Amazon.ca.