by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
When Winds breathe soft
Language: English
When Winds breathe soft along the silent Deep, the Waters curl, peaceful Billows sleep. A stronger Gale the troubled Wave awakes, the surface roughens, and the ocean shakes, more dreadful still, when furious Storms arise, the mounting Billows bellow to the Skies; on liquid Rocks the tott'ring Vessel's toss'd. Unnumbered Surges lash the foaming Coast, the raging Waves, excited by the Blast, whiten with wrath and split the sturdy Mast. When in an instant, he who rules the Floods, Earth, Air, and Fire, Jehovah, God of Gods, in pleasing accents speaks his sov'reign Will, and bids the Waters and the Winds be still. Hush'd are the Winds, the Waters cease to roar; safe are the Seas and silent as the Shore. Now, say what Joy elates the Sailor's Breast with prosp'rous Gale so unexpected blest, what Ease, what Transport in each Face is seen, the Heav'ns look bright, the Air and Sea serene, for ev'ry Plaint we hear a joyful Strain to Him whose Pow'r unbounded rules the Main.
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [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 Samuel Webbe (1740 - 1815), "When Winds breathe soft" [chorus a cappella], glee [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2014-04-15
Line count: 32
Word count: 169