by John Keats (1795 - 1821)
What is more gentle than a wind in summer? See original
Language: English
What is more gentle than a wind in summer?
What is more soothing than the pretty hummer
That stays one moment in an open flower,
And buzzes cheerily from bower to bower?
What is more tranquil than a musk-rose blowing
In a green island, far from all men’s knowing?
More healthful than the leafiness of dales?
More secret than a nest of nightingales?
More serene than Cordelia’s countenance?
More full of visions than a high romance?
What, but thee Sleep? Soft closer of our eyes!
Low murmurer of tender lullabies!
Light hoverer around our happy pillows!
Wreather of poppy buds, and weeping willows!
Silent entangler of a beauty’s tresses!
Most happy listener! when the morning blesses
Thee for enlivening all the cheerful eyes
That glance so brightly at the new sun-rise.
...
The poem is headed by a quote from Chaucer:
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
«As I lay in my bed slepe full unmete Was unto me, but why that I ne might Rest I ne wist, for there n’as erthly wight [As I suppose] had more of hertis ese Than I, for I n’ad sicknesse nor disese.»
Composition:
- Set to music by (Edward) Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976), "What is more gentle than a wind in summer?", op. 60 no. 7, published 1959, stanza 1 [ tenor, flute, clarinet, orchestra ], from Nocturne for tenor solo, seven obligato instruments and string orchestra, no. 7
Text Authorship:
- by John Keats (1795 - 1821), "Sleep and Poetry"
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Què és més suau que l’oreig a l’estiu?", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Jean-Pierre Granger)
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2016-07-10
Line count: 408
Word count: 3087