by Felicia Dorothea Hemans (1793 - 1835)
A deep‑toned Lyre hung murmuring
Language: English
A deep-toned Lyre hung murmuring To the wild wind of the sea: "O melancholy wind," it sigh'd, "What would thy breath with me? "Thou canst not wake the spirit That in me slumbering lies, Thou strikest not forth th' electric fire Of buried melodies. "Wind of the dark sea-waters! Thou dost but sweep my strings Into wild gusts of mournfulness, With the rushing of thy wings. "But the spell — the gift — the lightning — Within my frame conceal'd, Must I moulder on the rock away, With their triumphs unreveal'd? "I have power, high power, for freedom To wake the burning soul! I have sounds that through the ancient hills Like a torrent's voice might roll. "I have pealing notes of victory That might welcome kings from war; I have rich deep tones to send the wail For a hero's death afar. "I have chords to lift the pæan From the temple to the sky, Full as the forest-unisons When sweeping winds are high. "And Love — for Love's lone sorrow I have accents that might swell Through the summer air with the rose's breath, Or the violet's faint farewell: "Soft — spiritual — mournful — Sighs in each note enshrined — But who shall call that sweetness forth? Thou canst not, ocean-wind! "I pass without my glory, Forgotten I decay — Where is the touch to give me life? — Wild fitful wind, away!" So sigh'd the broken music That in gladness had no part — How like art thou, neglected Lyre, To many a human heart!
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Felicia Dorothea Hemans, Songs of the Affections, London, William Blackwood, 1830, pages 217-220 The poem is preceded by the following epigraph:
A large lyre hung in an opening of the rock, and gave forth its melancholy music to the wind — but no human being was to be seen. Salathiel.
Authorship:
- by Felicia Dorothea Hemans (1793 - 1835), "The Lyre's Lament", appears in Songs of the Affections [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Harriet Browne (1790 - 1858), "The Lyre of the Sea Cave" [ voice and piano ], London: Chappell [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2023-06-25
Line count: 44
Word count: 259