by Thomas Hardy (1840 - 1928)
The Temporary the All
Language: English
Change and chancefulness in my flowering youthtime, Set me sun by sun near to one unchosen; Wrought us fellowly, and despite divergence, Friends interblent us. "Cherish him can I while the true one forthcome-- Come the rich fulfiller of my prevision; Life is roomy yet, and the odds unbounded." So self-communed I. Thwart my wistful way did a damsel saunter, Fair not fairest, good not best of her feather; "Maiden meet," held I, "till arise my forefelt Wonder of women." Long a visioned hermitage deep desiring, Tenements uncouth I was fain to house in; "Let such lodging be for a breath-while," thought I, "Soon a more seemly. "Then, high handiwork will I make my life-deed, Truth and Light outshow; but the ripe time pending, Intermissive aim at the thing sufficeth." Thus I ... But lo, me! Mistress, friend, place, aims to be bettered straightway, Bettered not has Fate or my hand's achieving; Sole the showance those of my onward earth-track-- Never transcended!
Authorship:
- by Thomas Hardy (1840 - 1928), "The Temporary the All", appears in Wessex Poems and Other Verses, first published 1898 [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 Gerald Finzi (1901 - 1956), "The Temporary the All", 1927 [ voice and piano ], sketch; revised c1950 [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-01-17
Line count: 24
Word count: 162