by Adela Florence Nicolson (1865 - 1904)
This man has taken my Husband's life
Language: English
This man has taken my Husband's life And laid my Brethren low, No sister indeed, were I, no wife, To pardon and let him go. Yet why does he look so young and slim As he weak and wounded lies? How hard for me to be harsh to him With his soft, appealing eyes. His hair is ruffled upon the stone And the slender wrists are bound, So young! and yet he has overthrown His scores on the battle ground. Would I were only a slave to-day, To whom it were right and meet To wash the stains of the War away, The dust from the weary feet. Were I but one of my serving girls To solace his pain to rest! Shake out the sand from the soft loose curls, And hold him against my breast! Have we such beauty about our Throne? Such lithe and delicate strength? Would God that I were the senseless stone To support his slender length! I hate those wounds that trouble my sight, Unknown! how I wish you lay, Alone in my silken tent to-night While I charmed the pain away. I would lay you down on the Royal bed, I would bathe your wounds with wine, And setting your feet against my head Dream you were lover of mine. My Crown is heavy upon my hair, The Jewels weigh on my breast, All I would leave, with delight, to share Your pale and passionate rest! But hands grow restless about their swords, Lips murmur below their breath, "The Queen is silent too long!" "My Lords, --Take him away to death!"
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Adela Florence Nicolson (1865 - 1904), "The Regret of the Ranee in the Hall of Peacocks", appears in India's Love Lyrics [later Garden of Kama and Other Love Lyrics from India] [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):
- by John C. Mucci , "The Regret of the Ranee in the Hall of the Peacocks", 1994 [ soprano and contrabass ], from Strange Attractors, no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2004-09-30
Line count: 40
Word count: 268