Translation of a Romaic love song
Language:
English
Ah ! Love was never yet without
The pang, the agony, the doubt,
Which rends my heart with ceaseless sigh,
While day and night roll darkling by.
Without one friend to hear my woe,
I faint, I die beneath the blow.
That Love had arrows, well I knew,
Alas ! I find them poison'd too.
Birds, yet in freedom, shun the net
Which Love around your haunts hath set ;
Or, circled by his fatal fire,
Your hearts shall burn, your hopes expire.
A bird of free and careless wing
Was I, through many a smiling spring ;
But caught within the subtle snare,
I burn, and feebly flutter there.
Who ne'er have loved, and loved in vain,
Can neither feel nor pity pain,
The cold repulse, the look askance,
The lightning of Love's angry glance.
In flattering dreams I deem'd thee mine;
Now hope, and he who hoped, decline;
Like melting wax, or withering flower,
I feel my passion, and thy power.
My light of life ! ah, tell me why
That pouting lip, and alter'd eye !
My bird of love ! my beauteous mate !
And art thou changed, and canst thou hate !
Mine eyes like wintry streams o'erflow :
What wretch with me would barter woe 1
My bird ! relent : one note could give
A charm to bid thy lover live.
My curdling blood, my madd'ning brain,
In silent anguish I sustain ;
And still thy heart, without partaking
One pang, exults -- while mine is breaking.
Pour me the poison ; fear not thou !
Thou canst not murder more than now :
I've lived to curse my natal day,
And Love, that thus can lingering slay.
My wounded soul, my bleeding breast,
Can patience preach thee into rest?
Alas ! too late, I dearly know
That joy is harbinger of woe.
Authorship
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text),
listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)
Date added to the website: 2009-04-05.
| 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.
|
|
Search/Shop for
Sheet music:
 Search sheetmusicplus.com for
My light of life, Ah, love was never yet without the pang, The bird of love,
Art song ,
Lieder,
chansons, or works for solo voice
Search musicroom.com for
My light of life, Ah, love was never yet without the pang, The bird of love,
vocal/choral music
CDs:
Search amazon.com for
My light of life, Ah, love was never yet without the pang, The bird of love,
art song,
Lieder, or
chansons
Search amazon.ca for
My light of life, Ah, love was never yet without the pang, The bird of love,
art song,
Lieder, or
chansons
Books:
The Art of the Song Recital [amazon.com]
The Book of Lieder: The Original Texts of Over 1000 Songs [amazon.com]
Search amazon.com for
art song, Lieder, or
chansons
Search amazon.ca for
art song,
lieder, or
chansons
|
