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When we two parted

Language: English

When we two parted
    In silence and tears, 
Half broken-hearted
    To sever for years, 
Pale grew thy cheek and cold,
    Colder thy kiss; 
Truly that hour foretold
    Sorrow to this.

The dew of the morning
    Sunk chill on my brow -- 
It felt like the warning
    Of what I feel now. 
Thy vows are all broken,
    And light is thy fame; 
I hear thy name spoken,
    And share in its shame.

They name thee before me,
    A knell to mine ear; 
A shudder comes o'er me --
    Why wert thou so dear? 
They know not I knew thee,
    Who knew thee too well:-- 
Long, long shall I rue thee,
    Too deeply to tell.

In secret we met --
    In silence I grieve 
That thy heart could forget,
    Thy spirit deceive. 
If I should meet thee
    After long years, 
How should I greet thee? --
    With silence and tears.


Authorship

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

Text is used as part of a longer work Set in French, a translation of Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable] Set in German, a translation of F. H. Schneider [text unavailable] Set in French, a translation of André Viaud [text unavailable]
    * by Yüksel Koptagel , "Quand nous nous sommes séparés", published 1963. [voice and piano]
Set in Russian, a translation of Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable]
    * by V. Mefodiev , "Romans", published 1876. [voice and piano]

Date added to the website: 2008-01-23.

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