Three Songs

Song Cycle by Frances Allitsen (1848 - 1912)

1. Whether we die or live  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Whether we die or we live 
Matters it now no more : 
Life has nought further to give, 
Love is its crown and its core. 
Come to us either, we're rife, --
Death or life ! 
Death can take not away, 
Darkness and light are the same : 
We are beyond the pale ray, 
Wrapt in a rosier flame : 
Welcome which will to one breath, --
Life or death !

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

2. A cavalier's song  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
A steed! a steed of matchlesse speed,
A sword of metal keene!
All else to noble heartes is drosse,
All else on earth is meane.
The neighyinge of the war-horse prowde,
The rowlinge of the drum,
The clangor of the trumpet lowde,
Be soundes from heaven that come;
And O! the thundering presse of knightes
Whenas their war cryes swell,
May tole from heaven an angel bright,
And rouse a fiend from hell.

Then mounte! then mounte, brave gallants, all,
And don your helmes amaine:
Deathe's couriers, Fame and Honor, call
Us to the field againe.
No shrewish teares shall fill our eye
When the sword-hilt's in our hand, --
Heart whole we'll part, and no whit sighe
For the fayrest of the land;
Let piping swaine, and craven wight,
Thus weepe and puling crye,
Our business is like men to fight,
And hero-like to die!

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Confirmed with Poems Narrative and Lyrical, Third Edition, Boston: William D. Ticknor & Company, MDCCCXLIV (1844), pages 179-180

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

3. A song of dawn

Language: English 
— This text is not currently
in the database but will be added
as soon as we obtain it. —

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Total word count: 209