by Mary Mackay (1855 - 1924), as Marie Corelli
As the billows fling shells on the shore
Language: English
As the billows fling shells on the shore, As the sun poureth light on the sea, As the lark on the wing scatters songs to the spring, So rushes my love to thee. As the ivy clings close to the tower, As the dew lieth deep in a flower, As the shadows to light, as the day unto night, So clings my wild soul to thee! As the moon glitters coldly alone, Above earth on her cloud-woven throne, As the rocky-bound cave repulses a wave, So thy anger repulseth me. As the bitter black frost of a night Stays the roses with pitiless might, As the sharp dagger-thrust hurls a king to the dust, So thy cruelty murdereth me. Yet in spite of thy queenly disdain, Thou art seared by my passion and pain; Thou shalt hear me repeat, till I die for it sweet "I love thee! I dare to love thee!"
About the headline (FAQ)
The poem is preceded by the following text: "He sang a French rendering of a Sclavonic [sic] love-song, which, as nearly as I can translate it into English, ran as follows:"Authorship:
- by Mary Mackay (1855 - 1924), as Marie Corelli, no title, appears in A Romance of Two Worlds, New York: Grosset & Dunlap, p. 120, first published [1887] [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 Frances Allitsen (1848 - 1912), "Prince Ivan's song", published 1889 [ voice and piano ], from Six Songs, no. 5, London : E. Ascherberg & Co. [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2011-12-02
Line count: 20
Word count: 153