English translations of Seven songs, opus 13

by Fritz Bennicke Hart (1874 - 1949)

1. Infant Joy  [sung text not yet checked]
by Fritz Bennicke Hart (1874 - 1949), "Infant Joy", op. 13 (Seven songs) no. 1 (1913) [ voice and piano ]
Language: English 
"I have no name:
I am but two days old."
What shall I call thee?
"I happy am,
Joy is my name."
Sweet joy befall thee!

Pretty Joy!
Sweet Joy, but two days old.
Sweet Joy I call thee:
Thou dost smile,
I sing the while,
Sweet joy befall thee!

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by William Blake (1757 - 1827)
2. A slumber song  [sung text not yet checked]
by Fritz Bennicke Hart (1874 - 1949), "A slumber song", op. 13 (Seven songs) no. 2 (1913), published 1920 [ voice and piano ]
Language: English 
Sleep, sleep, beauty bright,
Dreaming o'er the joys of night;
Sleep, sleep, in thy sleep
Little sorrows sit and weep.

Sweet babe, in thy face
Soft desires I can trace,
Secret joys and secret smiles,
Little pretty infant wiles.

As thy softest limbs I feel, 
Smiles as of the morning steal 
O'er thy cheek, and o'er thy breast 
Where thy little heart does rest.

O! the cunning wiles that creep 
In thy little heart asleep. 
When thy little heart does wake 
Then the dreadful lightnings break, 

From thy cheek and from thy eye, 
O'er the youthful harvests nigh. 
Infant wiles and infant smiles 
Heaven and Earth of peace beguiles.

Text Authorship:

  • by William Blake (1757 - 1827), "A cradle song", written c1793, appears in Notebook, possibly intended for Songs of Innocence

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by William Blake (1757 - 1827)
3. The blossom  [sung text not yet checked]
by Fritz Bennicke Hart (1874 - 1949), "The blossom", op. 13 (Seven songs) no. 3 (1913) [ voice and piano ]
Language: English 
Merry, merry sparrow!
Under leaves so green
A happy blossom
Sees you, swift as arrow,
Seek your cradle narrow,
Near my bosom.

Pretty, pretty robin!
Under leaves so green
A happy blossom
Hears you sobbing, sobbing,
Pretty, pretty robin,
Near my bosom.

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by William Blake (1757 - 1827)
4. The shepherd  [sung text not yet checked]
by Fritz Bennicke Hart (1874 - 1949), "The shepherd", op. 13 (Seven songs) no. 4 (1913) [ voice and piano ], first setting
Language: English 
How sweet is the Shepherd's sweet lot!
   From the morn to the evening he strays;
He shall follow his sheep all the day,
   And his tongue shall be fillèd with praise.

For he hears the lamb's innocent call,
   And he hears the ewe's tender reply;
He is watchful [while]1 they are in peace,
   For they know when their Shepherd is nigh.

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1 Cooke: "when"

by William Blake (1757 - 1827)
5. Spring  [sung text not yet checked]
by Fritz Bennicke Hart (1874 - 1949), "Spring", op. 13 (Seven songs) no. 5 (1913) [ voice and piano ], first setting
Language: English 
Sound the Flute!
Now [it's]1 mute.
Birds delight
Day and Night.
Nightingale
In the dale,
Lark in Sky, 2
Merrily, 
Merrily Merrily to welcome in the Year.

Little Boy,
Full of Joy;
Little Girl,
Sweet and small.
Cock does crow,
So do you.
Merry voice
Infant noise
Merrily Merrily to welcome in the Year.

Little Lamb
Here I am,
Come and [lick
My white neck]3.
Let me pull
Your soft Wool.
Let me kiss
Your soft face.
Merrily Merrily [we]4 welcome in the Year.

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Confirmed with William Blake, Songs of Innocence, 1789.

1 MacNutt: "'tis"
2 Dougherty adds: "Out of sight"
3 MacNutt: "play/ Hours away"
4 MacNutt: "to"

by William Blake (1757 - 1827)
6. The lamb  [sung text not yet checked]
by Fritz Bennicke Hart (1874 - 1949), "The lamb", op. 13 (Seven songs) no. 6 (1913) [ voice and piano ], first setting
Language: English 
Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Gave thee life, and [bid]1 thee feed,
By the stream and o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing woolly, bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice?
Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?

Little Lamb, I'll tell thee,
Little Lamb, I'll tell thee:
He is callèd by thy name,
For He calls Himself a Lamb.
He is meek, and He is mild:
He became a little child.
I a child, and thou a lamb,
We are callèd by His name.
Little Lamb, God bless thee!
Little Lamb, God bless thee!

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1 MacNutt, Somervell: "bade"

by William Blake (1757 - 1827)
7. The lilly  [sung text not yet checked]
by Fritz Bennicke Hart (1874 - 1949), "The lilly", op. 13 (Seven songs) no. 7 (1913) [ voice and piano ]
Language: English 
The modest rose puts forth a thorn,
The humble sheep a threatening horn, 
While the lily white shall in love delight, 
Nor a thorn nor a threat stain her beauty bright.

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by William Blake (1757 - 1827)