Songs of the East III: Songs of Egypt

Song Cycle by Granville Ransome Bantock, Sir (1868 - 1946)

1. Invocation to the Nile
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
God of the fruitful stream,
Father of life divine,
Flowing afar and near,
Osiris, hear!

God of the living earth,
Giver of harvesttime,
King of the heaven clear,
Osiris, hear!

Flow o'er the thirsting land,
waken the bud to flower,
Ripen the golden ear,
Osiris, hear!

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Researcher for this page: Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor]

2. In the garden
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Come, my beloved,
Hearest thou my voice;
Shadows are murmuring
Through rustling leaves.
The silver sycamore
In the Northwind bending,
She is my messenger,
My Love, to thee.

Come, my beloved,
The beautiful bird 
From Arabia is singing
to welcome thee.
But its myrrh-scented wings
Waft not such delight
As the kiss of my Love!

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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Researcher for this page: Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor]

3. The unutterable
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
I am all that hath been, is, and shall be,
And my veil hath no mortal yet uncovered.
I was yesterday, and I know the morrow,
I am the lonely one, the ever-silent,
Sleeping upon the heaven's endless ocean.
I am Death and Birth, the night and morning,
Unfathomed mystery surrounds me.
From the beginning was my being,
Mightier than speech, my voice is silence!

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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Researcher for this page: Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor]

4. Bridal song
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Fling wide, oh dawn, thy golden portals
To greet the fairest bride.
Sweetly sound thy lutes, O maidens,
Singing hymns of praise.
Sing of her eyes where shadows sleeping,
Are still as watersprings at eve,
Where swwet as some pale water blossom,
Broodeth the soul of love.

Oh! sing her praises, scent her tresses
With dropping odours from the South,
Till all her garments smell of myrrh,
Sandal and frankincense.
Come, celebrate with joy the festal day,
Let music and let song be made,
For beautiful as goddess of the morning,
Beautiful as Hathor is the bride.

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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Researcher for this page: Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor]

5. Lament of Isis
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Gone is my love, my lord,
Gone is my beautiful one.
Lonely by land and sea,
Still am I wand'ring on,
Searching the earth, the wave,
Seeking his hidden grave.

Heaven and earth are dim,
The hours are long in their flight.
Dreary the sun by day,
Dreary the moon by night,
Watching while others sleep,
Weary I wake and weep.

To the great gods I cry,
They will not answer my prayer,
Gone is my love, my lord,
I am alone with despair.
Gone is my lovely one,
I am alone, I am alone.

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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Researcher for this page: Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor]

6. Festal song
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Oh! wreathe the bowl with Lotus flowers,
And drop the rose-leaves in the wine,
And feast away the festal hours,
Live while thy life is thine.

Too soon, thy soul will slip away,
Down to the land where no delight
Passeth along that shadowy way
Which leads unto the night.

Then joyous laugh and sweep thy lyre,
And sing of love and dream of Fame,
And kiss, and clasp thy heart's desire,
Since all will end the same.

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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Researcher for this page: Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor]
Total word count: 436