The Lied and Art Song Texts Page

Maid of Athens, ere we part

Language: English

Maid of Athens, ere we part,
Give, oh give me back my heart!
Or, since that has left my breast,
Keep it now, and take the rest!
Hear my vow before I go,
Ζωή μου, σᾶς ἀγαπῶ.
 
By those tresses unconfined,
Woo'd by each Ægean wind;
By those lids whose jetty fringe
Kiss thy soft cheeks' blooming tinge;
By those wild eyes like the roe,
Ζωή μου, σᾶς ἀγαπῶ.
 
By that lip I long to taste;
By that zone-encircled waist;
By all the token-flowers that tell
What words can never speak so well;
By love's alternate joy and woe,
Ζωή μου, σᾶς ἀγαπῶ.
 
Maid of Athens! I am gone:
Think of me, sweet! when alone.
Though I fly to Istambol,
Athens holds my heart and soul:
Can I cease to love thee? No! 
Ζωή μου, σᾶς ἀγαπῶ.


Note: Byron translated the Greek refrain as "My life, I love thee."

Authorship

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

Set in German, a translation of Anonymous/Unidentified Artist GER
    * by Leopold Lenz (1803-1862) , "Abschied von Athen" [voice and piano], note: another version exists for voice and horn or violoncello
Set in Italian, a translation of Giuseppina Turris Colonna GER [text unavailable] Set in German, a translation of Adolf Böttger (1815-1870) GER Set in German, a translation of Anonymous/Unidentified Artist GER [text unavailable]
    * by Wilhelm Herzberg , "Holdes Mädchen von Athen", op. 1 (6 Lieder) no. 5, published 1844. [soprano or tenor and piano]
Set in German, a translation of Anonymous/Unidentified Artist GER [text unavailable] Set in German, a translation of Anonymous/Unidentified Artist GER [text unavailable]
    * by Eduard Lassen (1830-1904) , no title, op. 68 (6 Lieder) no. ? [voice and piano], note: title is in Greek - will be added when ascertained
Set in German, a translation of Anonymous/Unidentified Artist GER [text unavailable] Set in Italian, a translation of Anonymous/Unidentified Artist GER [text unavailable] Set in German, a translation of Anonymous/Unidentified Artist GER [text unavailable] Set in German, a translation of Anonymous/Unidentified Artist GER [text unavailable]

Date added to the website: 2008-07-01.

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