Sweet Rhodoclea, here I send A wreath wherein fair flowers blend : I plucked and twined them all for thee ; The lily and anemone, And the rose's crimson cup With the night-dews brimming up ; Narcissus that the rain hath wet, And the purple violet. Then, with my garland on thy brow, Forget to hold thy proud head high, For though, like it, thou bloomest now, Like it, thou too shalt fade and die.
Cameos : Five Greek Love-Songs
by Liza Lehmann (1862 - 1918)
1. Sweet Rhodoclea [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Text Authorship:
- by Jane Minot Sedgwick (b. 1859), "Epigram", appears in Songs from the Greek
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Rufinus (flourished 3rd or 4th century CE), no title
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Confirmed with Songs from the Greek. Translated by Jane Minot Sedgwick, New York: George H. Richmond & Co., 1896, page 47.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
2. Fill up my cup [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Fill up my cup, saying always the name of my Heliodora; Say it and with pure wine mix the sweet name I adore. Bring me out yesterday's garland that still with sweet odors is dripping; Wreathe it around my brow, cherished reminder of her. See the red rose ever dear to the heart of the lover, is weeping, Knowing her far from me, far from my tender embrace.
Text Authorship:
- by Jane Minot Sedgwick (b. 1859), "Epigram", appears in Songs from the Greek
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Meleager of Gadara (flourished 1st century BCE), no title
Go to the general single-text view
Confirmed with Songs from the Greek. Translated by Jane Minot Sedgwick, New York: George H. Richmond & Co., 1896, page .
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
3. If thou should'st fly from me farther than Ethiopia's Island [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
If thou should'st fly from me farther than Ethiopia's island, Love would lend me his wings thither to bear me to thee; If thou should'st reach the clear dawn, like thee all rosy and glowing, Though the vast space intervene thee would I follow afoot. And if I send thee this pearl of the ocean, receive it with kindness, Gift of the goddess fair, sprung from the foam of the sea; Who no longer exults in the pride of her beauty excelling, Seeing herself surpassed, maiden, in brightness by thee.
Text Authorship:
- by Jane Minot Sedgwick (b. 1859), "Epigram", appears in Songs from the Greek
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Paul the Silentiary (d. 575?80)
Go to the general single-text view
Confirmed with Songs from the Greek. Translated by Jane Minot Sedgwick, New York: George H. Richmond & Co., 1896, page 49.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
4. If I were but the wind to kiss [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
If I were but the wind to kiss Thy soft white throat, no more than this Were mine to ask, for this were bliss. If I were but the glowing rose By thy fair fingers plucked -- who knows ? -- I might lie in thy breast of snows.
Text Authorship:
- by Jane Minot Sedgwick (b. 1859), "Epigram", appears in Songs from the Greek
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable]
Go to the general single-text view
Confirmed with Songs from the Greek. Translated by Jane Minot Sedgwick, New York: George H. Richmond & Co., 1896, page 53.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
5. Anacreontic [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
When thou forgest silver, Forge for me, Hephæstus -- Not a suit of armor; What care I for battles? -- But a hollow goblet, Deep as thou canst make it. Carve for me around it -- Not the constellations, Nor the sad Orion ; I love not the Pleiads, Nor the bright Arcturus -- Carve a spreading vine-branch, Rich with hanging clusters; Mænads at the vintage And the brimming wine-vats. Them that tread the wine-press Make the laughing satyrs, Golden little cupids, And smiling Cytheræa; With our fairest Bacchus, Eros and Aphroditè.
Text Authorship:
- by Jane Minot Sedgwick (b. 1859), "Anacreontic", appears in Songs from the Greek
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable]
Go to the general single-text view
Confirmed with Songs from the Greek. Translated by Jane Minot Sedgwick, New York: George H. Richmond & Co., 1896, page 54.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 365