by Thomas Hardy (1840 - 1928)

In Time of 'The Breaking of Nations'
 (Sung text for setting by G. Bachlund)
 Matches base text
Language: English 
Only a man harrowing clods
In a slow silent walk
With an old horse that stumbles and nods
Half asleep as they stalk.

Only thin smoke without flame
From the heaps of couch-grass;
Yet this will go onward the same
Though Dynasties pass.

Yonder a maid and her wight
Come whispering by:
War's annals will cloud into night
Ere their story die.
First published in Saturday Review, January, 1916

Composition:

    Set to music by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "In Time of 'The Breaking of Nations'", 2004 [ baritone and piano ], from Songs of War, no. 1

Text Authorship:

  • by Thomas Hardy (1840 - 1928), "In Time of 'The Breaking of Nations'"

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 64