My silks and fine array

 My silks and fine array, 
 My smiles and languish'd air,
 By love are driv'n away;
 And mournful lean Despair
 Brings me yew to deck my grave:
 Such end true lovers have.

 His face is fair as heav'n,
 When springing buds unfold;
 O why to him was't giv'n,
 Whose heart is wintry cold?
 His breast is love's all worship'd tomb,
 Where all love's pilgrims come.

 Bring me an axe and spade,
 Bring me a winding sheet;
 When I my grave have made,
 Let winds and tempests beat:
 Then down I'll lie, as cold as clay,
 True love doth pass away!

by William Blake (1757-1827)

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

by Malcolm Henry Arnold (1921-2006) , "My silks and fine array", op. 66 no. 4 (1959), published 1966, from Five William Blake Songs, no. 4.
by Ethel Mary Boyce (1863-1936) , "My silks and fine array", 1927. [trio for female voices with piano acc]
by John Mitchell (1941-) , "My silks and fine array", op. 1 no. 3 (1964), rev. 1977, from Seven Songs from William Blake, no. 3.

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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