Vita nuova (Watson, set by D. Wickens) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


Long hath she slept, forgetful of delight : 
At last, at last, the enchanted princess, Earth, 
Claimed with a kiss by Spring the adventurer, 
In slumber knows the destined lips, and thrilled 
Through all the deeps of her unageing heart 
With passionate necessity of joy. 
Wakens, and yields her loveliness to love. 
O ancient streams, O far-descended woods 
Full of the fluttering of melodious souls ; 
O hills and valleys that adorn yourselves 
In solemn jubilation ; winds and clouds, 
Ocean and land in stormy nuptials clasped, 
And all exuberant creatures that acclaim 
The Earth's divine renewal : lo, I too 
With yours would mingle somewhat of glad song. 
I too have come through wintry terrors, -- yea, 
Through tempest and through cataclysm of soul 
Have come, and am delivered. Me the Spring, 
Me also, dimly with new life hath touched. 
And with regenerate hope, the salt of life ; 
And I would dedicate these thankful tears 
To whatsoever Power beneficent, 
Veiled though his countenance, undivulged his thought, 
Hath led me from the haunted darkness forth 
Into the gracious air and vernal morn, 
And suffers me to know my spirit a note 
Of this great chorus, one with bird and stream 
And voiceful mountain, -- nay, a string, how jarred 
And all but broken ! of that lyre of life 
Whereon himself, the master harp-player, 
Resolving all its mortal dissonance 
To one immortal and most perfect strain, 
Harps without pause, building with song the world.

Authorship

Sir William Watson (1858-1935)

Odes and Other Poems

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

Dennis Wickens (1926-)

Date added to the website: 2009-01-21.

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