The Vicar of Wakefield

Opera by Liza Lehmann (1862 - 1918)

With my Bible and my staff
 (Sung text for setting by L. Lehmann)
 Matches base text

Language: English 
Now go, my children, be miserable and infamous, 
for we shall ne'er enjoy an hour again! 
May Heaven's everlasting curse upon him light that robbed me of my child, 
my child, my Olivia, Olivia! Vile traitor! 
Thou shalt rue, shalt rue thy villainy. 
Where are my pistols? 
Bring them me! 
I will pursue him while he is on earth, 
Old as I am, he shall find I can sting him yet! 
Ah! may Heav'n forgive both him and me! 
Blessed be His name, blessed be His name, for all that He hath given, 
and all that He hath taken away. 
'Tis not a small distress can wring the tears from these old eyes, 
that have not wept for so many years! 
Yet tho' the world judge harshly, 
ever shall this home and this heart be open to a poor repentant sinner. 
My son, bring hither my Bible and my staff. 
With my Bible and my staff, and Heav'n to be my guide, 
I will seek her to the world's end, will seek her to the world's end, 
and bring her home at last! and bring her home at last!

Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

Set by Liza Lehmann (1862 - 1918), copyright © 1907 [ low voice and piano ], New York : Boosey & Co.
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
Total word count: 189