by William Wordsworth (1770 - 1850)
Lines written while sailing In a boat at evening
Language: English
How richly glows the water's breast Before us, tinged with evening hues, While, facing thus the crimson west, The boat her silent course pursues! And see how dark the backward stream! A little moment past so smiling! And still, perhaps, with faithless gleam, Some other loiterers beguiling. Such views the youthful Bard allure; But, heedless of the following gloom, He deems their colours shall endure Till peace go with him to the tomb. -- And let him nurse his fond deceit, And what if he must die in sorrow! Who would not cherish dreams so sweet, Though grief and pain may come to-morrow?
Text Authorship:
- by William Wordsworth (1770 - 1850), "Lines written while sailing In a boat at evening", written 1789, first published 1798 [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 Axel Fernström (1897 - 1961), "Lines written while sailing In a boat at evening", op. 62 no. 2 (1942) [ coloratura soprano and string quintet or orchestra ], from Songs of the Sea, no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2007-12-28
Line count: 16
Word count: 102