by Adela Florence Nicolson (1865 - 1904), as Laurence Hope
The temple bells are ringing
Language: English
The temple bells are ringing, The young green corn is springing, And the marriage month is drawing very near. I lie hidden in the grass, And I count the moments pass, For the month of marriages is very near . Soon, ah, soon, the women spread The appointed bridal bed With hibiscus buds and crimson marriage flowers, Where, when all the songs are done, And the dear dark night begun, I shall hold her in my happy arms for hours. She is young and very sweet, From the silver on her feet To the silver and the flowers in her hair, And her beauty makes me swoon, As the Moghra trees at noon Intoxicate the hot and quivering air. Ah, I would the hours were fleet As her silver circled feet, I am weary of the daytime and the night; I am weary unto death, Oh my rose with jasmin breath, With this longing for your beauty and your light.
A. Woodforde-Finden sets stanzas 1, 3-4
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with The Garden of Kama by Laurence Hope, illustrated edition William Heinemann, October 1914, Page 33.
Text Authorship:
- by Adela Florence Nicolson (1865 - 1904), as Laurence Hope, "Valgovind’s Song in the Spring", appears in India's Love Lyrics [later Garden of Kama and Other Love Lyrics from India], first published 1901 [author's text checked 2 times 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 Amy Woodforde-Finden (1860 - 1919), "The temple bells", published 1903, stanzas 1,3-4, from Four Indian Love Lyrics, no. 1 [sung text checked 1 time]
Research team for this page: Joanna Lonergan , Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2005-04-27
Line count: 24
Word count: 160