Two songs of a madman

Song Cycle by Leonard J[ordan] Lehrman (b. 1949)

1. My soul is dark  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
My soul is dark - Oh! quickly string
  The harp I yet can brook to hear;
And let thy gentle fingers fling
  Its melting murmurs o'er mine ear. --
If in this heart a hope be dear,
  That sound shall charm it forth again --
If in these eyes there lurk a tear, 
  'Twill flow -- and cease to burn my brain --

But bid the strain be wild and deep,
  Nor let thy notes of joy be first:
I tell thee -- Minstrel! I must weep,
  Or else this heavy heart will burst --
For it hath been by sorrow nurst,
  And ached in sleepless silence [long]1 --
And now 'tis doom'd to know the worst,
  And break at once -- or yield to song.

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1 in some versions, "too long"

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

2. They say that Hope is happiness   [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
They say that Hope is happiness --
  But genuine Love must prize the past;
And mem'ry wakes the thoughts that bless
  They rose the first -- they set the last.
And all that mem'ry loves the most
  Was once our only hope to be:
And all that hope adored and lost
Hath melted into memory.

Alas! it is delusion all -- 
  The future cheats us from afar,
Nor can we be what we recall,
  Nor dare we think on what we are.

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

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 196