by Robert Browning (1812 - 1889)
In a year
Language: English
Never any more, While I live, Need I hope to see his face As before. Once his love grown chill, Mine may strive: Bitterly we re-embrace, Single still. Was it something said, Something done, Vexed him? was it touch of hand, Turn of head? Strange! that very way Love begun: I as little understand Love's decay. When I sewed or drew, I recall How he looked as if I sung, ---Sweetly too. If I spoke a word, First of all Up his cheek the colour sprang, Then he heard. Sitting by my side, At my feet, So he breathed but air I breathed, Satisfied! I, too, at love's brim Touched the sweet: I would die if death bequeathed Sweet to him. "Speak, I love thee best!" He exclaimed: "Let thy love my own foretell!" I confessed: "Clasp my heart on thine "Now unblamed, "Since upon thy soul as well "Hangeth mine!" Was it wrong to own, Being truth? Why should all the giving prove His alone? I had wealth and ease, Beauty, youth: Since my lover gave me love, I gave these. That was all I meant, ---To be just, And the passion I had raised, To content. Since he chose to change Gold for dust, If I gave him what he praised Was it strange? Would he loved me yet, On and on, While I found some way undreamed ---Paid my debt! Gave more life and more, Till, all gone, He should smile "She never seemed "Mine before. "What, she felt the while, "Must I think? "Love's so different with us men!" He should smile: "Dying for my sake--- "White and pink! "Can't we touch these bubbles then "But they break?" Dear, the pang is brief, Do thy part, Have thy pleasure! How perplexed Grows belief! Well, this cold clay clod Was man's heart: Crumble it, and what comes next? Is it God?
C. Reinagle sets stanzas 1, 8, 10
Authorship:
- by Robert Browning (1812 - 1889), "In a year", appears in Men and Women, Volume II, first published 1885 [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 Granville Ransome Bantock, Sir (1868 - 1946), "In a year", 1920, published 1920 [ voice and piano ], from Dramatic Lyrics Set I, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Caroline Reinagle, née Orger (1818 - 1892), "In a year", first performed 1882, stanzas 1,8,10 [ medium voice and piano ], from Three songs [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-02-26
Line count: 80
Word count: 314