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by John Addington Symonds (1840 - 1893)

The passing stranger
 (Sung text for setting by I. Venables)
 Matches base text
Language: English 
Of all the mysteries wherethrough we move,
This is the most mysterious - that a face,
Seen peradventure in some distant place,
Whither we can return no more to prove
The world - old sanctities of human love,
Shall haunt our waking thoughts, and gathering grace
Incorporate itself with every phase
Whereby the soul aspires to God above. 
Thus are we wedded through that face to her
Or him who bears it; nay, one fleeting glance,
Fraught with a tale too deep for utterance,
Even as a pebble cast into the sea,
Will on the deep waves of our spirit stir
Ripples that run through all eternity.

Composition:

    Set to music by Ian Venables (b. 1955), "The passing stranger", op. 22 no. 2 (1994-1995), first performed 1995 [ voice and piano ], from Venetian Songs - Love's Voice, no. 2

Text Authorship:

  • by John Addington Symonds (1840 - 1893)

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 105

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