So I have fared (Hardy, set by G. Finzi) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


Simple was I and was young;
  Kept no gallant tryst, I;
Even from good words held my tongue,
  Quoniam Tu fecisti!

Through my youth I stirred me not,
  High adventure missed I,
Left the shining shrines unsought;
  Yet - me deduxisti!

At my start by Helicon
  Love-lore little wist I,
Worldly less; but footed on;
  Why? Me suscepisti!

When I failed at fervid rhymes,
  "Shall", I said, "persist I?"
"Dies" (I would add at times)
  "Meos posuisti!"

So I have fared through many suns;
  Sadly little grist I
Bring my mill, or any one's,
  Domine, Tu scisti!

And at dead of night I call;
  "Though to prophets list I,
Which hath understood at all?
  Yea: Quem elegisti?"

Authorship

Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)

Late Lyrics and Earlier with Many Other Verses

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

Gerald Finzi (1901-1956)

Earth and Air and Rain

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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