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I saw thee weep - the big bright tear Came o'er that eye of blue; And then methought it did appear A violet dropping dew -- I saw thee smile -- the sapphire's [blaze]1 Beside thee ceased to shine; It could not match the living rays That fill'd that glance of thine. As clouds from yonder sun receive A deep and mellow dye, Which scarce the shade of coming eve Can banish from the sky -- Those smiles unto the moodiest mind Their own pure joy impart; Their sunshine leaves a glow behind That lightens o'er the heart.
Note: see also Bécquer's Imitación de Byron
1 in some versions, "blue"Text Authorship:
- by George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron (1788 - 1824), "I saw thee weep", appears in Hebrew Melodies, no. 10 [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 Adolph Martin Foerster (1854 - 1927), "I saw thee weep", op. 34 (Two songs) no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778 - 1837), "I saw thee weep", published 1826 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Klaus Miehling (b. 1963), "I saw thee weep", op. 323 (Sieben Lieder nach George Lord Byron) no. 3 (2021) [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Isaac Nathan (1790 - 1864), "I saw thee weep", published 1815, from A Selection of Hebrew Melodies No. I, no. 10 [sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Karl Julius Körner (1793 - 1873) , "Die Weinende", appears in Israelitische Gesänge, no. 10 ; composed by Robert Schumann.
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Franz Theremin (1780 - 1846) , "Thränen und Lächeln", written 1820, appears in Hebräische Gesänge ; composed by M. Henle, Carl Loewe.
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Ferruccio Busoni.
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Adolf Böttger (1815 - 1870) , "Ich sah die Thräne", appears in Hebräische Melodien, no. 10 ; composed by Emil Bezecný, Max Seifriz.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Ik zag je traan", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Alexis Paulin Pâris) , "Je te vis pleurer", appears in Mélodies hébraïques, no. 10
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2003-10-19
Line count: 16
Word count: 95
Ik zag je traan -- een held're glans Overtrok dat oog, zo blauw; En toen, - ik dacht - het leek bijkans Een drup viooltjesdauw. Een glimlach kwam -- zelfs een saffier Werd daarnaast mat en grauw, Verloor zijn kracht bij 't levend vuur, O, in die blik van jou. Zoals de zon aan wolken geeft Een diepe, zachte tint, Die lang nog aan de hemel leeft, Als d' avondval begint --, Die glimlach geeft het droefst gemoed Zijn eigen pure vreugd; Dit zonlicht laat een warme gloed, Die 't hart zacht overvleugt.
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation from English to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © 2013 by Lau Kanen, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.
Lau Kanen. Contact: boudewijnkanen (AT) gmail (DOT) com
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Based on:
- a text in English by George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron (1788 - 1824), "I saw thee weep", appears in Hebrew Melodies, no. 10
This text was added to the website: 2013-11-19
Line count: 16
Word count: 89