On the sleep of plants (Freneau, set by F. Jacobi) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


When suns are set, and stars in view,
Not only man to slumber yields ;
But Nature grants this blessing too,
To yonder plants, in yonder fields.

The Summer heats and lengthening days 
(To them the same as toil and care)
Thrice welcome make the evening breeze,
That kindly does their strength repair.

At early dawn each plant survey,
And see, revived by Nature's hand,
With youthful vigour, fresh and gay,
Their blossoms blow, their leaves expand.

Yon' garden plant, with weeds o'er-run,
Not void of thought, perceives its hour,
And, watchful of the parting sun,
Throughout the night conceals her flower.'

Like us, the slave of cold and heat,
She too enjoys her little span --
With Reason, only less complete
Than that which makes the boast of man.

Thus, moulded from one common clay,
A varied life adorns the plain;
By nature subject to decay,
BY NATURE MEANT TO BLOOM AGAIN!

Authorship

Philip Morin Freneau (1752-1832)

The Poems of Philip Freneau

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

Frederick Jacobi (1891-1952)

Three songs

Date added to the website: 2008-09-01.

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