Gayly sounds the Castanet, Beating time to bounding feet, When, after daylight's golden set, Maids and youth by moonlight meet. Oh! then, how sweet to move Thro' all that maze of mirth, Lighted by those eyes we love, Beyond all eyes on earth. Then, the joyous banquet spread On the cool and fragrant ground, With night's bright eye beams overhead, And still brighter sparkling round. Oh! then, how sweet to say Into the lov'd one's ear, Thoughts reserv'd through many a day, To be thus whisper'd there. When the dance and feast are done Arm in arm as home we stray, How sweet to see the dawning sun O'er her cheek's warm blushes play! Then, then the farewell kiss, And words whose parting tone Lingers still in dreams of bliss That haunt young hearts alone.
Confirmed with The Works of Thomas Moore, Esq., complete in six volumes, first American edition, New York: G. Smith, 1825. Appears in Volume IV: Melodies, in National Airs, pages 272 - 273.
Text Authorship:
- by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), "Maltese Air", appears in National Airs [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Konrad Wilhelm Adolf Laun (1808 - 1881) , "Maltesische Arie", appears in Liederklänge aus England und Spanien, in 2. National-Arien nach Thomas Moore ; composed by Wilhelm Heiser.
Researcher for this page: Melanie Trumbull
This text was added to the website: 2020-03-17
Line count: 24
Word count: 135
[Lustig tönt]1 die Castagnette, Wenn nach Sonnenuntergang Bub' und Mädchen um die Wette Tanzt den Wiesenplan entlang. Welche Lust, sich zu bewegen In der bunten, tollen Schaar, Wenn ein Aug' uns strahlt entgegen, Wie kein and'res hell und klar! Auf dem duft'gen Rasengrunde Harrt des Festes lust'ges Mahl, Und vom blauen Himmelsrunde Blickt darein des Mondes Strahl. Welche Lust, sich hinzubiegen Flüsternd zu der Liebsten Ohr; Was die Lippe stets verschwiegen, Springt dann plötzlich d'raus hervor. Wenn erlosch der Kerzenflimmer, Kehrt man heimwärts, Arm in Arm, Und des Morgens früher Schimmer Spielt auf Wangen, hell und warm. Dann beim Abschied holdes Säumen, Scheidekuß und Scheidewort; Ach, sie glüh'n in sel'gen Träumen, Wenn man jung ist, lange fort!
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Liederklänge aus England und Spanien, Bremen: A. D. Geisler, 1852. Appears in National-Arien nach Thomas Moore, pages 106 - 107.
1 Heiser: "Fröhlich schallt"; further changes may exist not shown above.Text Authorship:
- by Konrad Wilhelm Adolf Laun (1808 - 1881), "Maltesische Arie", appears in Liederklänge aus England und Spanien, in 2. National-Arien nach Thomas Moore [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), "Maltese Air", appears in National Airs
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Wilhelm Heiser (1816 - 1897), "Maltesisches Lied", op. 32 (Drei Lieder für Sopran oder Tenor mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1853 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Berlin, Challier und Co. [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this page: Melanie Trumbull
This text was added to the website: 2020-03-17
Line count: 24
Word count: 118