When suns are set, and stars in view, Not only man to slumber yields ; But Nature grants this blessing too, To yonder plants, in yonder fields. The Summer heats and lengthening days (To them the same as toil and care) Thrice welcome make the evening breeze, That kindly does their strength repair. At early dawn each plant survey, And see, revived by Nature's hand, With youthful vigour, fresh and gay, Their blossoms blow, their leaves expand. Yon' garden plant, with weeds o'er-run, Not void of thought, perceives its hour, And, watchful of the parting sun, Throughout the night conceals her flower.' Like us, the slave of cold and heat, She too enjoys her little span -- With Reason, only less complete Than that which makes the boast of man. Thus, moulded from one common clay, A varied life adorns the plain; By nature subject to decay, BY NATURE MEANT TO BLOOM AGAIN!
Three songs
Song Cycle by Frederick Jacobi (1891 - 1952)
1. On the sleep of plants [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Text Authorship:
- by Philip Morin Freneau (1752 - 1832), "On the sleep of plants", from The Poems of Philip Freneau, first published 1902-7
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]2. Elegy [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Fair flower, that dost so comely grow,
Hid in this silent, dull retreat,
Untouched thy honied blossoms blow,
Unseen thy little branches greet:
No roving foot shall crush thee here,
No busy hand provoke a tear.
By Nature's self in white arrayed,
She bade thee shun the vulgar eye,
And planted here the guardian shade,
And sent soft waters murmuring by;
Thus quietly thy summer goes,
Thy days declining to repose.
Smit with those charms, that must decay,
I grieve to see your future doom;
They died -- nor were those flowers more gay,
The flowers that did in Eden bloom;
Unpitying frosts and Autumn's power
Shall leave no vestige of this flower.
From morning suns and evening dews
At first thy little being came;
If nothing once, you nothing lose,
For when you die you are the same;
The space between is but an hour,
The frail duration of flower.
Text Authorship:
- by Philip Morin Freneau (1752 - 1832), "The wild honey suckle", from The Poems of Philip Freneau, first published 1902-7
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]3. Ode to freedom [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
God save the Rights of Man! Give us a heart to scan Blessings so dear: Let them be spread around Wherever man is found, And with the welcome sound Ravish his ear. Let us with France agree, And bid the world be free, While tyrants fall! Let the rude savage host Of their vast numbers boast -- Freedom's almight trust Laughs at them all! Though hosts of slaves conspire To quench fair Gallia's fire, Still shall they fail: Though traitors round her rise, Leagu'd with her enemies, To war each patriot flies, And will prevail. No more is valor's flame Devoted to a name, Taught to adore -- Soldiers of Liberty Disdain to bow the knee, But ateach Equality To every shore. The world at last will join To aid thy grand design, Dear Liberty! To Russia's frozen lands The generous flame expands: On Afric's burning sands Shall man be free! In this our western world Be Freedom's flag unfurl'd Through all its shores! May no destructive blast Our heaven of joy o'ercast, May Freedom's fabric last While time endures. If e'er her cause require! -- Should tyrants e'er aspire To aim their stroke, May no proud despot daunt -- Should he his standard plant, Freedom will never want Her hearts of oak!
Text Authorship:
- by Philip Morin Freneau (1752 - 1832), "Ode", from The Poems of Philip Freneau, first published 1902-7
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]Total word count: 515