by William Wordsworth (1770 - 1850)
I heard a thousand blended notes
Language: English
I heard a thousand blended notes While in a grove I sate reclined, In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts Bring sad thoughts to the mind. To her fair works did Nature link The human soul that through me ran; And much it grieved my heart to think What man has made of man. Through primrose tufts, in that sweet bower, The periwinkle trail'd its wreaths; And 'tis my faith that every flower Enjoys the air it breathes. The birds around me hopp'd and play'd, Their thoughts I cannot measure, But the least motion which they made It seem'd a thrill of pleasure. The budding twigs spread out their fan To catch the breezy air; And I must think, do all I can, That there was pleasure there. If this belief from Heaven be sent, If such be Nature's holy plan, Have I not reason to lament What man has made of man?
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by William Wordsworth (1770 - 1850), "Written in early spring" [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 Otto Freudenthal (b. 1934), "I heard a thousand..." [voice and piano], from Two Wordsworth Songs, no. 2. [text not verified]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2011-09-26
Line count: 24
Word count: 153