by Ernest Christopher Dowson (1867 - 1900)
Last night, ah, yesternight, betwixt her...
Language: English
Last night, ah, yesternight, betwixt her lips and mine There fell thy shadow. Cynara! thy breath was shed Upon my soul between the kisses and the wine; And I was desolate and sick of an old passion, Yea, I was desolate and bowed my head: I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion. All night upon mine heart I felt her warm heart beat, Night-long within mine arms in love and sleep she lay; Surely the kisses of her bought red mouth were sweet; But I was desolate and sick of an old passion, When I awoke and found the dawn was gray: I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion. I have forgot much, Cynara! gone with the wind, Flung roses, roses riotously with the throng, Dancing, to put thy pale, lost lilies out of mind; But I was desolate and sick of an old passion, Yea, all the time, because the dance was long: I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion. I cried for madder music and for stronger wine, But when the feast is finished and the lamps expire, Then falls thy shadow, Cynara! the night is thine; And I am desolate and sick of an old passion, Yea, hungry for the lips of my desire; I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion.
About the headline (FAQ)
First published in Century Guild Hobby Horse, April 1891Text Authorship:
- by Ernest Christopher Dowson (1867 - 1900), "Non sum qualis eram bonae sub regno Cynarae" [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 Frederick Delius (1862 - 1934), "Cynara", 1907, published 1931, first performed 1929 [ baritone and orchestra ], revised 1929 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Pamela Harrison (1915 - 1990), "Non suma qualis eram bonae sub regno Cynarae" [ tenor and string orchestra ], from Five Poems of Ernest Dowson  [sung text not yet checked]
- by Robert William Jones (1932 - 1997), "Cynara", from Two Songs [sung text not yet checked]
- by Quinto Maganini (1897 - 1974), "Cynara", published <<1940 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Cyril Patrick Towsey (b. 1918), "Last night, ah, yesternight", 1951 [ high voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 226