The Wandering Minstrel (Smyth, set by L. Beethoven) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


"I am bow'd down, with years,
And fast flow my tears,
But I wander, I mourn not,
Your pity to win:
'Tis not age, want, or care,
I could poverty bear
'Tis the shame of my heart
That is breaking within."

Thou are bow'd down with years,
And fast flow thy tears,
But why dost thou wander
No pity to win?
Were it age, were it care,
We could soothe, we could share,
But what is the shame
Thy sad bosom within?

"Oh, if thou should'st hear
From splendour's high sphere
The sorrow, the tale,
Which these notes may convey!
Think, think of past hours,
Thy dear native bowers,
And turn not, my love,
From thy father away."

'Tis from Erin so dear
The lay that we hear,
Then welcome tha minstrel
And welcome the lay:
But where are the bowers,
And what are the hours,
And where is the daughter
That wander'd away?

"What peace thou hast known,
Since from me thou hast flown!
And, Eveleen, think
But how wretched am I!
O let me but live
Thy fault to forgive,
Again let me love thee,
And bless thee, and die!"

O cease then thy song,
She has languished too long;
She hoped not thy smile
Of forgiveness to see:
She sunk at the word,
Thy voice when she heard
And she lives (if she lives)
But for virtue and thee.

Input by Ferdinando Albeggiani

Authorship

William Smyth (1765-1849)

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

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

12 songs of various nationalities

Available translations (or transliterations, if applicable):

GER

German

Date added to the website: 2005-12-08.

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