O garlands, hanging by these doors, now stay, Nor from your leaves too quickly shake away My dew of tears, (How many such, ah me! A lover's eyes must shed!) But when the opening of these doors ye see, Let slowly drop my rain upon her head, That so her golden hair may drink more deep Those tears that I did weep.
Six Greek Love Songs
by Amy Elise Horrocks (1867 - 1919)
1. To garlands [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Text Authorship:
- by Alma Strettell (1856 - 1939), no title
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Asclepiades of Samos (b. c320 BCE), no title
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Confirmed with Wilmer Cave France Wright, A Short History of Greek Literature from Homer to Julian, New York, etc.: American Book Company, 1907, pages 446-447.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
2. In the spring‑time [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Now the white iris blossoms, and the rain-loving narcissus, And now again the lily, the mountain-roaming, blows. Now too, the flower of lovers, the crown of all the springtime, Zenophila the winsome, doth blossom with the rose. O meadows, wherefore vainly in your radiant garlands laugh ye? Since fairer is the maiden than any flower that grows!
Text Authorship:
- by Alma Strettell (1856 - 1939), "In the Spring a Young Man's Fancy"
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Meleager of Gadara (flourished 1st century BCE), Epigram 5.144
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]3. To the ships [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
O gentle ships that skim the seas, And cleave the strait where Hellé fell, Catch in your sails the Northern breeze, And speed to Cos where she doth dwell, My Love, and see you greet her well ! And if she looks across the blue, Speak, gentle ships, and tell her true "He comes, for Love hath brought him back, No sailor, on the landward tack." If thus, oh gentle ships, ye do, Then may ye win the fairest gales, And swifter speed across the blue, While Zeus breathes friendly on your sails.
Text Authorship:
- by Andrew Lang (1844 - 1912), "To the ships"
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Meleager of Gadara (flourished 1st century BCE), Epigram 12.53
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Confirmed with Selections from the Greek Anthology, London, Scott, 1895? page 154.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
4. The crier [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
I cry you Love — at earliest break of day But now, even now, his wings the wanderer spread And passed away, Leaving his empty bed. Ho! ye that meet the boy — for such is he, Full of sweet tears and wit; a fickle sprite Laughing and free, With wings and quiver bright! Yet know I not on whom to father Love — For earth denies the wanton child his name, And air above, And the broad sea the same. With each and all he lives at feud. Beware Lest, while I speak, he cast A dainty snare Over your hearts at last. But see ! his hiding-place, his very self, Close to my hand, behold, the archer lies A laughing elf Within my lady's eyes.
Text Authorship:
- by William Money Hardinge (1854 - 1916), no title
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Meleager of Gadara (flourished 1st century BCE), no title, Epigram 5.177
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Confirmed with Selections from the Greek Anthology, London, Scott, 1895? page 155.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
5. Heliodore [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Tears, even far beneath the earth I send thee, O Heliodore — bitter tears I pour ; Tokens of love, in Hades to attend thee. And on thy tomb, where I have mourned so sore, I offer — as libations poured above — Memories of our kindness and our love. O thou, among the dead beloved even, Meleager sorely, sorely wails for thee ; Vain homage, empty prayers to Hades given ! Ah, where may now my mourned-for blossom be ? Hades hath ravished, ravished it away, And dust defiles my blooming flower to-day. O Earth, all nourishing, to thee I make My supplication — her I weep for take, And gently fold her in thine arms, to rest, Mother, against thy breast.
Text Authorship:
- by Alma Strettell (1856 - 1939), no title
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Meleager of Gadara (flourished 1st century BCE), no title, Epigram 7.476
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Confirmed with Selections from the Greek Anthology, London, Scott, 1895?, page 180.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
6. Golden eyes [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Ah, Golden Eyes, to win you yet, I bring mine April coronet, The lovely blossoms of the spring, For you I weave, to you I bring: These roses with the lilies wet, The dewy dark-eyed violet, Narcissus, and the wind-flower wet. Wilt thou disdain mine offering, Ah, Golden Eyes? Crowned with thy lover’s flowers, forget The pride wherein thy heart is set, For thou, like these or anything, Hast but thine hour of blossoming, Thy spring, and then — the long regret, Ah, Golden Eyes!
Text Authorship:
- by Andrew Lang (1844 - 1912), "Golden Eyes"
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Rufinus (flourished 3rd or 4th century CE), no title
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Confirmed with The World’s Best Poetry, ed. by Bliss Carman, et al. Philadelphia: John D. Morris & Co., 1904.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 541