by Alfred Tennyson, Lord (1809 - 1892)
Translation possibly by Heinrich Proch (1809 - 1878)
Airy, Fairy Lilian
Language: English
I Airy, Fairy Lilian, flitting, fairy Lilian, when I ask her if she love me, claps her tiny hands above me, laughing all she can; she'll not tell me if she love me, cruel little Lilian. II When my passion seeks pleasance in love-sighs, she, looking thro' and thro' me thoroughly to undo me, smiling, never speaks: so innocent-arch, so cunning-simple, from beneath her gathered wimple glancing with black-bearded eyes, till the lightning laughters dimple the baby-roses in her cheeks; then away she flies. III Prythee weep, May Lilian! Gaiety without eclipse wearieth me, May Lilian; thro' my very heart it thrilleth when from crimson-threaded lips silver-treble laughter trilleth: prythee weep, May Lilian! IV Praying all I can, if prayers will not hush thee, airy Lilian, like a rose-leaf I will crush thee, fairy Lilian, cruel little Lilian.
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Text Authorship:
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), "Lilian", 1929 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Maria Lindsay (flourished 1855-1875), "Airy fairy Lilian", published 1855? [ voice and piano ], London : Robert Cocks [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation possibly by Heinrich Proch (1809 - 1878); composed by Heinrich Proch.
Researcher for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2011-06-22
Line count: 35
Word count: 138
Lilian
Language: German (Deutsch) after the English
I Luft'ge Sylphe Lilian, duft'ge Sylphe Lilian, wenn ich ihr mein Herz verpfände, klatscht sie in die winz'gen Hände, lacht und nimmt's nicht an. Sagt nicht, dass sie Lieb' empfände, böse kleine Lilian. II Will mein Liebesklagen ich ihr seufzend sagen, schaut sie mir zur größten Pein durch und durch ins Herz hinein, lacht und spricht kein Wort. Die schwarzen Perlenaugen funkeln so listig fromm durch den Schleier, den dunkeln, so erzunschuldig verschlagen, bis in den jungen Rosen der Wangen sich lächelnde, blitzende Grübchen gefangen, und dann läuft sie fort. III Wein', o wein', Mai Lilian, Scherz ohn' Ernst hat seine Klippen, langweilt mich Mai Lilian; dieses silberhelle Lachen, Trillern von den Purpurlippen, dieses kann mich rasend machen! Wein', o wein', Mai Lilian! IV Sieh, ich bitte, was ich kann. Sollt' dies Bitten mir nicht glücken, würd' ich dich, Mai Lilian, wie ein Rosenblatt zerdrücken, dich, du Sylphe Lilian!
Text Authorship:
- possibly by Heinrich Proch (1809 - 1878)
Based on:
- a text in English by Alfred Tennyson, Lord (1809 - 1892)
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Heinrich Proch (1809 - 1878), "Lilian", op. 232, published 1880 [ voice and piano ], from Letzte Liederspende für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, no. 2, Hamburg, Cranz [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2022-10-11
Line count: 34
Word count: 149