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Rich and rare were the gems she wore, And a bright gold ring on her wand she bore; But oh! her beauty was far beyond Her sparkling gems, or snow-white wand. "Lady! dost thou not fear to stray, So lone and lovely through this bleak way? Are Erin's sons so good or so cold, As not to be tempted by woman or gold?" "Sir Knight! I feel not the least alarm, No son of Erin will offer me harm: - For though they love woman and golden store, Sir Knight! they love honour and virtue more!" On she went, and her maiden smile In safety lighted her round the Green Isle; And blest for ever is she who relied Upon Erin's honour and Erin's pride.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Thomas Moore, A New Edition from the last London Edition, Boston: Lee and Shepard; New York: Lee, Shepard, & Dillingham, 1876.
Text Authorship:
- by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), "Rich and rare were the gems she wore", appears in Irish Melodies [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 (Edward) Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976), "Rich and rare" [sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in French (Français), a translation by Thomas Gounet (1801 - 1869) ; composed by Hector Berlioz.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Les joyaux qu'elle portait étaient rares et précieux", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2003-11-03
Line count: 16
Word count: 124
Les joyaux qu'elle portaient était rares et précieux, Et sa badine portait un brillant anneau d'or ; Mais oh ! Sa beauté allait bien au-delà De ses joyaux étincelants ou de sa badine d'un blanc de neige. « Madame ! Ne craignez-vous pas de voyager Si seule et si belle sur ce chemin lugubre ? Les fils d'Erin sont-ils si bons ou si froids Pour ne pas être tentés par la femme ou l'or ? » « Seigneur chevalier ! Je ne ressens point la moindre alarme, Pas un seul fils d'Erin ne me fera mal : Car même s'ils aiment femme et abondance d'or, Seigneur chevalier ils aiment encore plus honneur et vertu ! » Elle poursuivit, et éclairée de son sourire de vierge Elle fit en sûreté le tour de l'Île Verte ; Et qu'elle soit à jamais bénie celle qui crût En l'honneur et en la fierté d'Erin.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2014 by Pierre Mathé, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
- a text in English by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), "Rich and rare were the gems she wore", appears in Irish Melodies
This text was added to the website: 2014-04-18
Line count: 16
Word count: 142