Songs of youth and springtide

Song Cycle by William Henry Bell (1873 - 1946)

?. Summum bonum  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
	All the breath and the bloom of the year in the bag of one bee:
All the wonder and wealth of the mine in the heart of one gem:
In the core of one pearl all the shade and the shine of the sea:
Breath and bloom, shade and shine, -- wonder, wealth, and -- how far above them --
        Truth that's brighter than gem,
        Trust, that's purer than pearl, --
Brightest truth, purest trust in the universe--all were for me
        In the kiss of one girl.

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

?. Nay, but you, who do not love her  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Nay but you, who do not love her,
  Is she not pure gold, my mistress?
Holds earth aught -- speak truth -- above her?
  Aught like this tress, see, and this tress,
And this last fairest tress of all,
So fair, see, ere I let it fall?
Because, you spend your lives in praising;
  To praise, you search the wide world over:
Then why not witness, calmly gazing,
  If earth holds aught -- speak truth -- above her?
Above this tress, and this, I touch
But cannot praise, I love so much!

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 172