by Thomas Hardy (1840 - 1928)
The dance continued Matches base text
Language: English
Regret not me; Beneath the sunny tree I lie uncaring, slumbering peacefully. Swift as the light I flew my faery flight; Ecstatically I moved, and feared no night. I did not know That heydays fade and go, But deemed that what was would be always so. I skipped at morn Between the yellowing corn, Thinking it good and glorious to be born. I ran at eves Among the piled-up sheaves, Dreaming, `I greave not, therefore nothing grieves' Now soon will come The apple, pear, and plum, And hinds will sing, and autumn insects hum. Again you will fare To cider-makings rare, And junketings; but I shall not be there. Yet gaily sing Until the pewter ring Those songs we sang when we went gipsying. And lightly dance Some triple-timed romance In coupled figures, and forget mischance; And mourn not me Beneath the yellowing tree; For I shall mind not, slumbering peacefully.
Composition:
- Set to music by Gerald Finzi (1901 - 1956), "The dance continued", op. 14 no. 10, published 1933 [ tenor and piano ], from A Young Man's Exhortation, no. 10
Text Authorship:
- by Thomas Hardy (1840 - 1928), no title, appears in Satires of Circumstance, Lyrics and Reveries with Miscellaneous Pieces, first published 1914
See other settings of this text.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 30
Word count: 152