Mysteries

Song Cycle by Cees van As (1946 - 1986)

1. I saw a man  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
I saw a man pursuing the horizon;
Round and round they sped.
I was disturbed at this;
I accosted the man.
[“It is futile,” I said,]1
“You can never -- ”

“You lie,” he cried,
And ran [on]2.

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1 Lindsay: "I said, “It is futile,”"
2 Lidnsay: "on and on"

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

2. Mysteries  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
The murmur of a bee
A witchcraft yieldeth me.
If any ask me why,
'T were easier to die
Than tell.

The red upon the hill
Taketh away my will;
If anybody sneer,
Take care, for God is here,
That's all.

The breaking of the day
Addeth to my degree;
If any ask me how,
Artist, who drew me so,
Must tell!

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

3. Light  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
The night has a thousand eyes,
 And the day but one;
Yet the light of the [world]1 dies
 With the dying sun.

The mind has a thousand eyes,
 And the heart but one;
Yet the light of a whole life dies
 When love is done.

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • GER German (Deutsch) (Walter A. Aue) , "Viel tausend Augen hat die Nacht", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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Confirmed with Francis William Bourdillon, Among the Flowers, London: Marcus Ward & Co., 1878, page 101.

1 Foote, Venables: "bright world"

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Melanie Trumbull

4. Maria

Language: English 
— This text is not currently
in the database but will be added
as soon as we obtain it. —

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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Total word count: 148