by Mary Ann Evans (1819 - 1880), as George Eliot
Bright, o bright Fedalma See original
Language: English
Maiden, crowned with glossy blackness,
Lithe as panther forest-roaming,
Long-armed naiad, when she dances
On a stream of ether floating, --
Bright, O bright Fedalma!
Form all curves like softness drifted,
Wave-kissed marble roundly dimpling,
Far-off music slowly wingèd,
Gently rising, gently sinking, --
Bright, O bright Fedalma!
Pure as rain-tear on a rose-leaf,
Cloud high-born in noonday spotless
Sudden perfect like the dew-bead,
Gem of earth and sky begotten, --
Bright, O bright Fedalma!
Beauty has no mortal father,
Holy light her form engendered,
Out of tremor, yearning, gladness,
Presage sweet, and joy remembered, --
Child of light, Fedalma!
Composition:
- Set to music by Charles Villiers Stanford, Sir (1852 - 1924), "Bright, o bright Fedalma", op. 1 no. 7, published 1878 [ voice and piano ], from Eight songs from "The Spanish Gypsy", no. 7
Text Authorship:
- by Mary Ann Evans (1819 - 1880), as George Eliot, no title, appears in The Spanish Gypsy, first published 1868
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Researcher for this page: Ted Perry
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 97