Mihrab Shah (Browning, set by G. Bantock) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


So, the head aches and the limbs are faint! 
Flesh is a burthen even to you! 
Can I force a smile with a fancy quaint? 
Why are my ailments none or few?

In the soul of me sits sluggishness:
Body so strong and will so weak!
The slave stands fit for the labor yes, 
But the master's mandate is still to seek. 

You, now what if the outside clay 
Helped, not hindered the inside flame?
My dim to-morrow your plain to-day, 
Yours the achievement, mine the aim?

So were it rightly, so shall it be!
Only, while earth we pace together 
For the purpose apportioned you and me, 
Closer we tread for a common tether. 

You shall sigh "Wait for his sluggish soul! 
Shame he should lag, not lamed as I!" 
May not I smile "Ungained her goal: 
Body may reach her by-and-by?"

Authorship

Robert Browning (1812-1889)

Ferishtah's Fancies

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

Sir Granville Ransome Bantock (1868-1946)

Lyrics from "Ferishtah's Fancies"

Date added to the website: 2009-02-26.

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