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Two Human Hymns

Song Cycle by Judith Weir (b. 1954)

Publisher: Wise Music Classical (external link)

1.   [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin. 
But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,
If I lack'd anything. 

A guest, I answer'd, worthy to be here:
Love said, You shall be he. 
I the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,
I cannot look on thee. 
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
Who made the eyes but I? 

Truth, Lord, but I have marr'd them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve. 
And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame? 
My dear, then I will serve. 
You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat:
So I did sit and eat.

Text Authorship:

  • by George Herbert (1593 - 1633)

See other settings of this text.

Researcher for this page: Ted Perry

2. Like to the Falling of a Star  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Like to the falling of a star,
Or [as the flights]1 of eagles are;
Or like the fresh spring's gaudy hue,
Or silver drops of morning dew;
Or like a wind that chafes the flood,
Or bubbles which on water stood:
Even such is man, whose borrowed [light]2
Is straight call'd in, and paid to night.
  The wind blows out, the bubble dies;
  The spring entombed in autumn lies.
  The dew dries up, the star is shot;
  The flight is past and man forgot.

Text Authorship:

  • by Henry King (1592 - 1669), first published 1664

See other settings of this text.

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

  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Ainsi est la vie", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

View text without footnotes
Note: author given as "Harry King" in the Bennett score.
1 Bennett: "like the flight"
2 Bennett: "plight"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 209
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