by Harry Arbuthnot Acworth (1849 - 1933)
Duet
Language: English
THYRI. The gray land breaks to lively green, Bespangled all with flowers; The throstles sing to greet the spring Through lengthening sunlit hours. But what care I for flowers on sward, Or bursting buds on tree? My lands restor'd from Wendland's lord Were better cheer to me. A landless, dowerless bride am I, The bride of Norroway's King, What boots me, while I sit and sigh, The coming of the spring? OLAF. Thyri, my beloved, Hither come I bearing Angelicas uprooted, Sweet and fair as thou. Earliest boon of springtime, Sign of snow departing, In their welcome fragrance, Bathe thy snowy brow. THYRI. Sweet are thy words, but O! meseems, A sweeter gift would be, The boon that haunts Queen Thyri's dreams, Her dowry over sea. Wide spread they from the Wendland shore, And rich with fruit and flower, The lands I weep for evermore, O! give me back my dower. OLAF. Fear not, doubt not, weep not, As a Queen triumphant, Towards the happy sunlight Lift thy radiant eyes; To the strife of favours, For thy love I gird me, And the lands of Thyri Shall I win for prize. BOTH. Comes the spring unchaining, Sunshine on his pinions, All the world imprisoned In the Ice-King's hall; So the golden promise Passed from lord to lady, Warm with words of loving, Lifts the heart from thrall.
Authorship:
- by Harry Arbuthnot Acworth (1849 - 1933) [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 Edward Elgar, Sir (1857 - 1934), "Duet", op. 30 no. 14, published 1896 [soprano, tenor, and orchestra], from King Olaf, no. 14. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Harold Ryan
This text was added to the website: 2009-10-03
Line count: 49
Word count: 227