I saw thee weep

I saw thee weep - the big bright tear
Came o'er that eye of blue;
And then methought it did appear
A violet dropping dew --
I saw thee smile  -- the sapphire's [blaze]1
Beside thee ceased to shine;
It could not match the living rays
That fill'd that glance of thine.

As clouds from yonder sun receive
A deep and mellow dye,
Which scarce the shade of coming eve
Can banish from the sky --
Those smiles unto the moodiest mind
Their own pure joy impart;
Their sunshine leaves a glow behind
That lightens o'er the heart.

by George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron (1788-1824) , "I saw thee weep", from Hebrew Melodies, no. 10

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

by Adolph Martin Foerster (1854-1927) , "I saw thee weep", op. 34 (Two songs) no. 1.
by Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837) , "I saw thee weep", published 1826.
by Isaac Nathan (1790-1864) , "I saw thee weep", published 1815, from A Selection of Hebrew Melodies No. I, no. 10.

by Robert Alexander Schumann (1810-1856) , "Die Weinende", op. posth. 21 no. 2 (1827/28).

by M. Henle , "Thränen und Lächeln", op. 4 no. 3, published 1897 [voice and piano], from Hebräische Gesänge nach jüdischen Melodien, no. 3.
by Johann Karl Gottfried Loewe (1796-1869) , "Tränen und Lächeln", op. 4 (Hebräische Gesänge) no. 6 (1823).

by Ferruccio Busoni (1866-1924) , "Ich sah die Träne", op. 15 (Zwei Lieder nach Byron) no. 1 (1883).

Date added to the website: 2003-10-19.

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