If love be life, I long to die,
Live they that list for me:
And he that gains the most thereby,
A fool at least shall be.
But he that feels the sorest fits ,
'Scapes with no less than loss of wits.
Unhappy life they gain,
Which love do entertain.
In day by fained looks they live,
By lying dreams in night ;
Each frown a deadly wound doth give,
Each smile a false delight.
If't hap their lady pleasant seem,
It is for others' love they deem :
If void she seem of joy,
Disdain doth make her coy.
Such is the peace that lovers find,
Such is the life they lead,
Blown here and there with every wind,
Like flowers in the mead.
Now war, now peace, now war again,
Desire, despair, delight, disdain,
Though dead in midst of life,
In peace and yet at strife.
Songs of Remembrance, the Music composed ... by Miss Mounsey
by Elizabeth Mounsey (1819 - 1905)
1. If love be life, I long to die [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Text Authorship:
- by Walter Raleigh, Sir (1552? - 1618), "Dispraise", subtitle: "Of love, and lover's follies"
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Confirmed with Sir Walter Raleigh, The Poems of Sir Walter Raleigh, London: Longman etc, 1814, p.5
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
2. The will o' the wisp [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Where the snake lurks in the tangled grass,
By the slippery brink of the dank morass,
Merrily O merrily O !
I light my lamp, and forth I go !
And to lure astray the lated wight,
I shine all night in the swampy hollows,
Merrily O merrily O !—
Wailing and woe to the fool who follows !
Oh ! Love and Friendship and I make three ;
We roam together in company !
Merrily O merrily !---
We light our lamps, and forth we go !
Friendship showeth a steady ray,
But its dupes ne'er dream that its heart is hollow.
Merrily O merrily O !--
Wailing and woe to the fools who follow !
Oh ! Love indeed hath a fairer gleam ;-
What is so bright as her first fond dream ?
Merrily O merrily O!
We light our lamps, and forth we go !
An early blight if that love be true,
A broken heart if that love be hollow.
Merrily O merrily !---
Wailing and woe to the fools who follow !
Text Authorship:
- by Charles Mackay (1814 - 1889), "The Will o' the Wisp"
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Confirmed with Charles Mackay, The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay, London : G. Routledge, 1859, p.281
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
3. I can bid thee now, farewell!
Language: English
Farewell! yet ere we bid a last adieu Ere Ocean's waves between us intervene; Ere other climes shall change the present scene: Say, wilt thou change with it? or still be true? Say, shall I then within thy mem'ry dwell, When all around thee beams with pleasure's smiles? Say, will thy heart, in truth, resist those wiles? Say yes, and I can bid thee now farewell! Or, shall the cup of sorrow yet again Already nearly full, be running o'er; Shall Fate, its sad contents relentless pour While I, alas, that bitter cup must drain? Oh! no it cannot be! I know, too, well Thy Love, thy Truth thy Constancy thy Heart Since then indeed To meet again we part Tho' deep in Sorrow, I can say Farewell!
Text Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author ( J. V. S. Esq. )
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Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]4. The warrior boy [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Away, away, my gallant Warrior Boy! The trumpet peals its note of joy! The field must all our cares employ Where valiant hearts beat high The Lute awhile must quit thy hand Behold! I Grasp the shining brand The Foe assails our Fatherland And clangors rend the sky! Prepare my eager Battle steed Away, away with light'ning speed Perpare the burning charge to lead At Glory's onward cry! Adieu, awhile, our native Tow'rs! To Beauty's smile and festal bow'rs: There yet may come some gentle hours For Love, and Music's sigh: Farewell to thee, sweet Ev'ning chime! For we, who chase the wing of Time Must be afar, ere morning prime Where War's red banners fly Hurrah! for Valors laurell'd meed! Away! away with light'ning speed Perpare the burning charge to lead At Glory's all inspiring cry!
Text Authorship:
- by William Ball
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Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]5. O the merry, merry spring!
Language: English
The merry, merry spring, the bright, bright spring What joy she shakes from her flow'ry wing! When youth bird sings from its leafy nest How happy it sleeps on its Mother's breast How sweet to roam at beauty's side Thro' glens, and bells, and woondland's wide How sweet to sit by a fountain clear And whisper love to a Maiden's ear! O the merry, merry Spring, the bright, bright Spring What joy she shakes from her flow'ry wing! At merry, merry morn, or Evening still, How sweet to roam by the balmy hill; To call a wreath of the flowrets rare To twine 'mid the locks of a Maiden's hair; How sweet to fly from care and strife And the dull cold round of City life To roam the wood and shady grove And plight out troth, To the Maid we love!
Text Authorship:
- by Charles Mackay (1814 - 1889)
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Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]6. Song of the summer winds
Language: English
Up the hill and down the bourn O'er the meadow swift we fly Now we sing and now we mourn Now we whistle now we sigh By the fringed grassy river Through the murm'ring reeds we sweep 'Mid the lilly leaves we quiver To their very hearts we creep Now the maiden rose is blushing At the frolic things we say While, aside her cheek we're rushing Like some truant Bees at play Down, down the glen across the mountain O'er the yellow heath we roam Whirling round about the foutain 'Til its little breakers foam Bending down the weeping Willow While our vesper hymn we sigh Then, unto our rosy pillows On our weary wings we hie
Text Authorship:
- by George Darley (1795 - 1846)
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Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]Total word count: 834