Omar Khayyám, Part III

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

1. As under cover of departing Day  [sung text not yet checked]

As under cover of departing Day
Slunk hunger-stricken Ramazán away,
Once more within the Potter's house alone
I stood, surrounded by the Shapes of Clay.

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2. Shapes of all Sorts and Sizes, great and small  [sung text not yet checked]

Shapes of all Sorts and Sizes, great and small,
That stood along the floor and by the wall;
And some loquacious Vessels were; and some
Listen'd perhaps, but never talk'd at all.

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3. Said one among them -- "Surely not in vain  [sung text not yet checked]

Said one among them -- "Surely not in vain 
"My substance of the common Earth was ta'en
"And to this Figure moulded, to be broke, 
"Or trampled back to shapeless Earth again."

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4. Then said a Second -- "Ne'er a peevish Boy  [sung text not yet checked]

Then said a Second -- "Ne'er a peevish Boy
"Would break the Bowl from which he drank in joy;
"And He that with his hand the Vessel made
"Will surely not in after Wrath destroy."

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5. After a momentary silence spake  [sung text not yet checked]

After a momentary silence spake 
Some Vessel of a more ungainly Make;
"They sneer at me for leaning all awry:
"What! did the Hand then of the Potter shake?"

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6. Whereat some one of the loquacious Lot  [sung text not yet checked]

Whereat some one of the loquacious Lot --
I think a Súfi pipkin -- waxing hot --
"All this of Pot and Potter -- Tell me, then,
"Who is the Potter, pray, and who the Pot?"

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7. Why," said another, "Some there are who tell  [sung text not yet checked]

"Why," said another, "Some there are who tell
"Of one who threatens he will toss to Hell
"The luckless Pots he marr'd in making -- Pish!
"He's a Good Fellow, and 'twill all be well."

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8. Well," murmur'd one, "Let whoso make or buy  [sung text not yet checked]

"Well," murmur'd one, "Let whoso make or buy,
"My Clay with long Oblivion is gone dry:
"But fill me with the old familiar Juice,
"Methinks I might recover by and by."

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9. So while the Vessels one by one were speaking  [sung text not yet checked]

So while the Vessels one by one were speaking,
[One spied the little Crescent]1 all were seeking:
And then they jogg'd each other, "Brother! Brother!"
[Hark to]2 the Porter's Shoulder-knot a-creaking!"

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1 second edition: "One spied the little Crescent" ; third and fourth editions: "The little Moon look'd in that"
2 second, third, and fourth editions: "Now for"

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

10. Ah, with the Grape my fading Life provide  [sung text not yet checked]

Ah, with the Grape my fading Life provide,
And wash [my]1 Body whence the Life has died,
[And in a Windingsheet of Vine-leaf wrapt,
So bury me by some sweet Garden-side]2.

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1 third and fourth editions: "the"
2 second, third, and fourth editions: "And lay me, shrouded in the living Leaf,/ By some not unfrequented Garden-side."

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

11. That ev'n my buried Ashes such a Snare  [sung text not yet checked]

That ev'n my buried Ashes such a Snare
Of [Perfume]1 shall fling up into the Air,
As not a True Believer passing by
But shall be overtaken unaware.

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1 second, third, and fourth editions: "Vintage"

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12. Indeed the Idols I have loved so long  [sung text not yet checked]

Indeed the Idols I have loved so long
Have done my Credit in Men's Eye much wrong:
Have drown'd my [Honour]1 in a shallow Cup,
And sold my Reputation for a Song

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1 second, third, and fourth editions: "Glory"

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13. Indeed, indeed, Repentance oft before  [sung text not yet checked]

Indeed, indeed, Repentance oft before
I swore but was I sober when I swore?
And then and then came Spring, and Rose-in-hand
My thread-bare Penitence apieces tore.

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14. And much as Wine has play'd the Infidel  [sung text not yet checked]

And much as Wine has play'd the Infidel,
And robb'd me of my Robe of Honour -- well,
I [often wonder]1 what the Vintners buy
One half so precious as the [Goods]2 they sell.

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1 third and fourth editions: "wonder often"
2 second edition: "ware" ; third and fourth edition: "stuff"

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15. Alas, that Spring should vanish with the Rose!  [sung text not yet checked]

Alas, that Spring should vanish with the Rose!
That youth's sweet-scented manuscript should close
The Nightingale that in the Branches sang,
Ah, whence and whither flown again who knows?

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16. Would but the Desert of the Fountain yield  [sung text not yet checked]

Would but the Desert of the Fountain yield
One glimpse -- if dimly, yet indeed, reveal'd,
Toward which the fainting Traveller might spring,
As springs the trampled herbage of the field!

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17. Would but some winged Angel ere too late  [sung text not yet checked]

Would but some winged Angel ere too late
Arrest the yet unfolded Roll of Fate,
And make the stern Recorder otherwise
Enregister, or quite obliterate!

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18. Ah Love! could thou and I with Fate conspire  [sung text not yet checked]

Ah Love! could [thou]1 and I with [Fate]2 conspire
To grasp the sorry Scheme of Things entire,
Would [not we]3 shatter it to bits -- and then
Remould it nearer to the Heart's Desire!

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1 Houseley, Lehmann: "you"
2 third and fourth editions, Houseley: "Him"
3 Houseley, Lehmann: "we not"

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

19. Yon rising Moon that looks for us again  [sung text not yet checked]

Yon rising Moon that looks for us again --
How oft hereafter will she wax and wane;
How oft hereafter rising look for us
Through this same Garden -- and for one in vain!

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20. And when like her, oh Sáki, you shall pass  [sung text not yet checked]

And when like her, oh Sáki, you shall pass 
Among the Guests Star-scatter'd on the Grass,
And in your blissful errand reach the spot 
Where I made One -- turn down an empty Glass!

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Total word count: 612