At tea (Hardy, set by G. Bachlund, N. Maw, Z. Perry) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


The kettle descants in a cosy drone,
And they young wife looks in her husband's face,
And then at her guest's, and shows in her own
Her sense that she fills an envied place;
And the visiting lady is all abloom,
And says there was never so sweet a room.

And the happy young housewife does not know
That the woman beside her was first his choice,
Till the fates ordained it could not be so....
Betraying nothing in look or voice
The guests sits smiling and sips her tea,
And he throws her a stray glance yearningly.

Authorship

Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)

Satires of Circumstance, Lyrics and Reveries with Miscellaneous Pieces

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

Choral Suite no. 1

Date added to the website: 2007-05-04.

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.