by Thomas Campion (1567 - 1620)
As by the streames of Babilon
Language: English
As by the streames of Babilon Farre from our natiue soyle we sat, Sweet Sion thee we thought vpon, And eu'ry thought a teare begat. Aloft the trees, that spring vp there, Our silent Harps wee pensiue hung : Said they that captiu'd vs, Let's heare Some song, which you in Sion sung. Is then the song of our God fit To be prophaned in forraine land ? O Salem, thee when I forget, Forget his skill may my right hand ! Fast to the roofe cleaue may my tongue, If mindelesse I of thee be found : Or if, when all my ioyes are sung, Ierusalem be not the ground. Remember, Lord, how Edoms race Cryed in Ierusalems sad day, Hurle downe her wals, her towres deface, And, stone and by stone, all leuell lay. Curst Babels seede ! for Salems sake Iust ruine yet for thee remaines ! Blest shall they be thy babes that take And 'gainst the stones dash out their braines.
Authorship:
- by Thomas Campion (1567 - 1620) [author's text not yet checked 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 Thomas Campion (1567 - 1620), "As by the streames of Babilon", published c1613, from the collection Two Bookes of Ayres - The First Booke, no. 14. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2007-11-16
Line count: 24
Word count: 166