My golden locks time hath to silver turn'd (O time too swift, and swiftness never ceasing) My youth 'gainst age, and age at youth hath spurn'd, But spurn'd in vain; youth waineth by encreasing, Beauty, strength, youth, are flowers that fading been, Duty, faith, love, are roots, and ever green. My helmet now shall make an hive for bees, And lovers songs shall turn to holy psalms; A man at arms must now sit on his knees, And feed on prayers that are old age's alms; And tho' from court to cottage I depart, My saint is sure of mine unspotted heart. And when I sadly sit in homely cell, I’ll teach my swains this carrol for a song, Blest be the hearts that think my sovereign well, Curs'd be the souls that think to do her wrong. Goddess, vouchsafe this aged man his right, To be your beadsman now, that was your knight.
Confirmed with Thomas Evans Old Ballads, Historical and Narrative, with Some of Modern Date; Collected from Rare Copies and MSS., a new edition, revised and considerably enlarged from public and private collections, by his son, R.H. Evans, in four volumes -- Vol. IV, London: Printed for R.H. Evans, Pall-Mall, by W. Bulmer & Co., Cleveland Row, 1810, pages 48-49
Text Authorship:
- possibly by Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex (1566 - 1601), "Sonnet sung before Queen Elizabeth, supposed to have been written by the Earl of Essex." [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):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation possibly by Annette Elisabeth, Freiin von Droste-Hülshoff (1797 - 1848) ENG ; composed by Annette Elisabeth, Freiin von Droste-Hülshoff.
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2017-02-12
Line count: 18
Word count: 154
Mein dunkles Haar färbt altersgrau die Zeit. O Zeit, wie schnell! o Schnelle sonder Gleichen! Die Jugend müht sich Alter zu erreichen, Den Weg zurück nimmt keine Sterblichkeit; Sieh Jugend, Anmuth, Schönheit bald verblüh'n: Gehorsam, Lieb' und Treue bleiben grün. Den Bienen sey mein Helm als Wohnsitz kund, Statt Minnelieder müssen Psalmen tönen, Die Kniee spät zu beugen sich gewöhnen Und bethen lerne noch des Greises Mund; Komm ich, o Hütte, gleich vom Hof' zu dir, So bring' ich doch ein reines Herz mit mir. Nie dank' ich meiner Königinn genug, Ich will um mich die Schäfer singen lehren: "Gesegnet sind, die meine Fürstinn ehren! Und ihre Feinde trifft des Himmels Fluch." Herrinn! verleih' dies Loos dem alten Mann, Daß Dir als Hirt der Ritter dienen kann.
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Text Authorship:
- possibly by Annette Elisabeth, Freiin von Droste-Hülshoff (1797 - 1848), "Graf Essex an die Königinn Elisabeth" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English possibly by Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex (1566 - 1601)
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Annette Elisabeth, Freiin von Droste-Hülshoff (1797 - 1848), "Graf Essex an die Königin Elisabeth" [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The Earl of Essex to Queen Elizabeth", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2017-02-12
Line count: 18
Word count: 127