Dirge (Hemans, set by A. H.) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


  Elle était du monde, ou les plus belles choses
     Ont le pire destin:
  Et Rose, elle a dure, ce que durent les roses,
     L'espace d'un matin.

Earth ! guard what here we lay in [holy]¹ trust ; 
  That which hath left our home a darkened place, 
Wanting the form, the smile, now veiled with dust, 
  The light departed with our loveliest face! 
Yet from thy bonds, [undying hope springs]² free -- 
We have but lent our beautiful to thee ! 

But thou, O Heaven ! keep, keep what Thou hast taken, 
  And with our treasure keep our hearts on high ! 
The spirit [meek]³, and yet by pain unshaken, 
  The faith, the love, the lofty constancy.' 
Guide us where these are with our sister flown,  --
They were of Thee, and thou hast claimed thine own !

View text without footnotes
¹ in another version, "holiest"
² in another version, "our sorrow's hope is"
³ in another version: "weak"

Authorship

Felicia Dorothea (Browne) Hemans (1793-1835)

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

A. J. H.

Ten songs

Date added to the website: 2009-10-22.

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