Prince Madog's Farewell

Why lingers my gaze where the last hues of day
on the hills of my country in loveliness sleep?
Too fair is the sight for a wanderer,
whose way lies far o'er the measureless worlds of the deep!
Fall, shadows of twilight! and veil the green shore,
That the heart of the mighty may waver no more.

Why rise on my thoughts, ye free songs of the land
where the harp's lofty soul on each wild wind is worn?
Be hushed, be forgotten! for ne'er shall the hand of minstrel
with melody greet my return.
No, no! let our echoes still float on the breeze,
And my heart shall be strong for the conquest of seas!

'Tis not for the land of my sires to give birth unto bosoms
that shrink when the trial is nigh;
Away we will bear over ocean and earth
a name and a spirit that never shall die.
My course to the winds, to the stars I resign;
But my soul's quenchless fire, O my country is thine.

by Felicia Dorothea (Browne) Hemans (1793-1835) , "Prince Madog's Farewell", from Welsh Melodies, published 1822

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

by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848-1918) , "Prince Madog's Farewell", published 1822 [voice and piano], from A Selection of Welsh Melodies, no. ?, an arrangement of the air "Lady Owen's Delight"
by Sir Arthur Somervell (1863-1937) , "Why lingers my gaze?", published 1911 [male chorus a cappella], arrangement of the air "Lady Owen's delight", also set in Welsh
by Sir Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924) , "Prince Madoc's Farewell", published 1894. [voice and piano or orchestra]

by Sir Arthur Somervell (1863-1937) , no title, published 1911 [male chorus a cappella], arrangement of the air "Lady Owen's delight", also set in English

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