by Alfred Perceval Graves (1846 - 1931)
The Daughter of the Rock
Language: English
As on Killarney's bosom blue We lay with lifted oars, He challenged with his clarion true The silent shores. And straight from off her mountain throne The Daughter of the Rock Took up that challenge, tone by tone, With airy mock. And twice and thrice from hill to hill She tossed it o'er the heather, Then drew the notes with one wild thrill Together. Like pearls of silver dew From a fragrant purple flower, Echo's secret heart into They shower. We floated on and ever on With many a warbled tune, Until above the water wan Awoke the moon. Then with a sudden strange surprise A clearer challenge came From out his eager lips, and eyes Of ardent flame. Like Echo answering his horn, At first I mocking met him; Till lest e'en counterfeited scorn Should fret him. From all my heart strings caught Faint as Echo's closing stress, Stole the answer that he sighing sought, Love's low yes.
Authorship:
- by Alfred Perceval Graves (1846 - 1931) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Charles Villiers Stanford, Sir (1852 - 1924), "The Daughter of the Rock", op. 76 no. 35, published 1901 [voice and piano], from Songs of Erin, no. 35, London, Boosey [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Mike Pearson
This text was added to the website: 2016-09-13
Line count: 32
Word count: 159