A gift of Silence, sweet! Who may not ever hear: To lay down at your unobservant feet, Is all the gift I bear. I have no songs to sing, That you should heed or know: I have no lilies, in full hands, to fling Across the path you go. I cast my flowers away, Blossoms unmeet for you! The garland I have gathered in my day: My rosemary and rue. I watch you pass and pass, Serene and cold: I lay My lips upon your trodden, daisied grass, And turn my life away. Yea, for I cast you, sweet! This one gift, you shall take: Like ointment, on your unobservant feet, My silence, for your sake.
Four Songs , opus 43
by Cyril Meir Scott (1879 - 1970)
1. A gift of silence [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Text Authorship:
- by Ernest Christopher Dowson (1867 - 1900), "Amor umbratilis", appears in In Praise of Solitude
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First published in Century Guild Hobby Horse, October 18912. Don't come in, sir, please! [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Don't come in, sir, please! Don't break my willow-trees! Not that that would very much grieve me; But, alack-a-day! what would my parents say? And love you as I may, I cannot bear to think what that would be. Don't cross my wall, sir, please! Don't spoil my mulberry-trees! Not that that would very much grieve me; But, alack-a-day! what would my brothers say? And love you as I may, I cannot bear to think what that would be. [Keep]1 outside, sir, please! Don't spoil my sandal-trees! Not that that would very much grieve me; But, alack-a-day! what the world would say! And love you as I may, I cannot bear to think what that would be.
Text Authorship:
- by Herbert Allen Giles (1845 - 1935), "To a young gentleman", appears in Chinese Poetry in English Verse, London, Quartich, first published 1898
Based on:
- a text in Chinese (中文) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , from National Odes of China, collected by Confucius [text unavailable]
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View original text (without footnotes)1 Carpenter: "Then keep"
3. The white knight [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Gallants, riding to the war, Riding o'er the lea, On the battlefield afar Greet my love for me ! How should we your true-love greet ? How your true-love know ? Milk-white is his courser fleet, White as falling snow. White the cross upon his breast ; Golden spurs hath he ; White upon his lance's crest Floats a pennon free. Weep no more, no more, ladye, Lowly rests his head ; On the plains of Brittany Lies your lover dead. Weep not, ladye, weep no more ; In a meadow fair By his grave grey friars four Speed his soul with prayer.
Text Authorship:
- by Rosamund Marriott Watson (1860 - 1911), "The white knight", appears in Vespertilia and Other Verses
Based on:
- a text in Old French (Ancien français) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , written c1600 [text unavailable]
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4. A reflection
Language: English
— This text is not currently
in the database but will be added
as soon as we obtain it. —
Text Authorship:
- by William Roger Paton (1857 - 1921)
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable]
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