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by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792 - 1822)

Invocation
 (Sung text for setting by H. Gál)
 See original
Language: English 
Rarely, rarely, comest thou,
Spirit of Delight!
Wherefore hast thou left me now
Many a day and night?
Many a weary night and day  
'Tis since thou art fled away.

How shall ever one like me
Win thee back again?
With the joyous and the free
Thou wilt scoff at pain.   
Spirit false! thou hast forgot
All but those who need thee not.

 ... 

I love all that thou lovest,  
Spirit of Delight!
The fresh Earth in new leaves dressed,
And the starry night;
Autumn evening, and the morn
When the golden mists are born. 

 ... 

I love Love--though he has wings,
And like light can flee,
But above all other things,
Spirit, I love thee --
Thou art love and life! Oh, come,
Make once more my heart thy home.

Composition:

    Set to music by Hans Gál (1890 - 1987), "Invocation", first performed 1967, stanzas 1-2,5,8 [ SATB chorus a cappella ], from Six Part-Songs [formerly: Four Part-Songs], no. 4

Text Authorship:

  • by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792 - 1822), "Song", first published 1824

See other settings of this text.

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

  • CZE Czech (Čeština) (Jaroslav Vrchlický) , title 1: "Utečenci", title 2: "Zpěv", Prague, J. Otto, first published 1901


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2005-01-30
Line count: 48
Word count: 255

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