by William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)

Sonnet XIX ‑ "Devouring Time"
 (Sung text for setting by G. Bachlund)
 See original
Language: English 
Our translations:  ITA
Devouring Time, blunt thou the lion's paws,
And make the earth devour her own sweet brood;
Pluck the keen teeth from the fierce tiger's jaws,
And burn the long-lived phoenix in her blood;
Make glad the sorry seasons as thou fleets,
As do whate'er thou wilt, swift-footed Time,
To the wide world and  ...  her fading sweets;
But I forbid thee one most heinous crime:
O! carve not with thy hours my love's fair brow,
Nor draw no lines there with thine antique pen;
Him in thy course untainted do allow
For beauty's pattern to succeeding men.
  Yet, do thy worst old Time: despite thy wrong, 
  My love shall in my verse ever live young.

Composition:

    Set to music by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "Sonnet XIX - "Devouring Time"", 2002 [ high voice or medium voice and piano ], from Five Sonnets, no. 3

Text Authorship:

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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: 2007-05-07
Line count: 14
Word count: 117