by Felicia Dorothea Hemans (1793 - 1835)

Why lingers my gaze where the last hues...
Language: English 
Why lingers my gaze where the last hues of day
on the hills of my country in loveliness sleep?
Too fair is the sight for a wanderer,
whose way lies far o'er the measureless worlds of the deep!
Fall, shadows of twilight! and veil the green shore,
That the heart of the mighty may waver no more.

Why rise on my thoughts, ye free songs of the land
where the harp's lofty soul on each wild wind is worn?
Be hushed, be forgotten! for ne'er shall the hand of minstrel
with melody greet my return.
No, no! let our echoes still float on the breeze,
And my heart shall be strong for the conquest of seas!

'Tis not for the land of my sires to give birth unto bosoms
that shrink when the trial is nigh;
Away we will bear over ocean and earth
a name and a spirit that never shall die.
My course to the winds, to the stars I resign;
But my soul's quenchless fire, O my country is thine.

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Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

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  • Also set in Welsh (Cymraeg), a translation by John Ceiriog Hughes (1832 - 1887) ; composed by Arthur Somervell, Sir.

Researcher for this page: Ted Perry

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 173