The damsels of Cardigan (Jones, set by L. Beethoven) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


Fair Tivy how sweet are thy waves gently flowing,
The wild open woods and green eglantine bow'rs,
Thy banks with the blush rose and amaranth glowing,
While friendship and mirth claim these labourless hours.

Refrain:
 Yet weak is our vaunt, while something we want,
 More sweet than the pleasures which prospects can give:
 Come, smile, sweet damsels of Cardigan!
 Love can alone make it blissful to live.

How sweet is the odour of jasmine and roses,
That Zephyr around us so lavishly flings!
Perhaps for Bleanpant fresh perfume he composes,
Or tidings from Bronwith auspiciously brings.

Refrain:
 Yet weak is our vaunt, while something we want,
 More sweet than the pleasures which odours can give:
 Come, smile, sweet damsels of Cardigan!
 Love can alone make it blissful to live.

No longer then pore over dark Gotich pages,
To cull a rude gibberish from Neatheam or Brooke;
Leave your books and your parchments to grey-bearded sages,
Be nature and love, and fair woman, our book!

Refrain:
 Yet weak is our vaunt, while something we want,
 More sweet than the pleasures that learning can give:
 Come, smile, sweet damsels of Cardigan!
 Love can alone make it blissful to live.

Input by Ferdinando Albeggiani

Authorship

W. Jones

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)

26 Walisische Lieder

Available translations (or transliterations, if applicable):

GER

German

Date added to the website: 2006-01-11.

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