There is a smile of love, [and]1 there is a smile of deceit; and there is a smile of smiles, in which these two smiles meet. And there is a frown of hate, and there is a frown of disdain; and there is a frown of frowns which you strive to forget in vain, For it sticks in the heart's deep core, and it sticks in the deep backbone. And no smile that ever was smiled, but only one smile alone -- That betwixt the cradle and grave it only once smiled can be, but when it once is smiled there's an end to all misery.
Wonders
Cantata by Jacob Avshalomov (1919 - 2013)
1. The smile  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Text Authorship:
- by William Blake (1757 - 1827), "The smile"
See other settings of this text.
View original text (without footnotes)1 omitted by Mitchell.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
2. The grain of sand  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
What shall I do! what could I do, if I could find these Criminals I could not dare to take vengeance; for all things are so constructed And builded by the Divine hand, that the sinner shall always escape, And he who takes vengeance alone is the criminal of Providence; If I should dare to lay my finger on a grain of sand In way of vengeance; I punish the already punishd; O whom Should I pity if I pity not the sinner who is gone astray: O Albion, if thou takest vengeance; if thou revengest thy wrongs Thou art for ever lost! What can I do to hinder the Sons Of Albion from taking vengeance? or how shall I them perswade.
Text Authorship:
- by William Blake (1757 - 1827), no title, appears in Jerusalem, Chapter 2, Plate 31
Go to the general single-text view
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]Total word count: 227