by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852)
Translation by Carl Rupert Nyblom (1832 - 1907)
Take back the virgin page
Language: English
Take back the virgin page, White and unwritten still; Some hand, more calm and sage, The leaf must fill. Thoughts come, as pure as light Pure as even you require; But, oh! each word I write Love turns to fire. Yet let me keep the book: Oft shall my heart renew, When on its leaves I look, Dear thoughts of you. Like you, 'tis fair and bright; Like you, too bright and fair To let wild passion write One wrong wish there. Haply, when from those eyes Far, far away I roam, Should calmer thoughts arise Towards you and home; Fancy may trace some line, Worthy those eyes to meet, Thoughts that not burn, but shine, Pure, calm, and sweet. And as, o'er ocean far, Seamen their records keep, Led by some hidden star Through the cold deep; So may the words I write Tell through what storms I stray — You still the unseen light, Guiding my way.
Text Authorship:
- by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), "Take back the virgin page", subtitle: "Written on Returning a Blank Book", appears in Irish Melodies [author's text checked 1 time 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):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in Swedish (Svenska), a translation by Carl Rupert Nyblom (1832 - 1907) , "Till en Flicka", subtitle: "Vid återskickandet af en oskrifven minnesbok", appears in Irländska Melodier af Thomas Moore ; composed by Ivar Hallström.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2022-09-12
Line count: 32
Word count: 159
Till en Flicka
Language: Swedish (Svenska) after the English
Nej, tag igen din bok, Hvit och ofläckad än! En hand, mer lugn och klok, Må fylla den. Tanken är ren och skär, Ren som ditt sinne bjöd, Men ack, hvart ord förtär Kärlekens glöd. Dock om du mig den ger, Då skall den skänka mig, När på dess blad jag ser, Minnet af dig, -- Som du så hvit och skär, Som du för skär och hvit, Att låta vildt begär Smyga sig dit. Kanske om från din blick Fjerran jag sökt min stig, Lugnare då jag fick Tänka på dig. Ett språk jag söka må, Värdigt sin ljufva lott, Ord, som ej bränna få, Men skina blott. Och som på hafvets rymd Sjömannen för sin bok, Ledd af en stjerna, skymd I molnens dok; Så må om stormars brus Vittna för dig min sång, Du med ditt dolda ljus Leder min gång.
Confirmed with Irländska Melodier af Thomas Moore. Öfversatta af Carl Rupert Nyblom, Upsala, Wahlström, 1858, pages 18-19.
Text Authorship:
- by Carl Rupert Nyblom (1832 - 1907), "Till en Flicka", subtitle: "Vid återskickandet af en oskrifven minnesbok", appears in Irländska Melodier af Thomas Moore [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), "Take back the virgin page", subtitle: "Written on Returning a Blank Book", appears in Irish Melodies
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Ivar Hallström (1826 - 1901), "Till en Flicka", subtitle: "Vid återskickandet af en oskrifven minnesbok", published c1860 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2022-09-12
Line count: 32
Word count: 143