by George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron (1788 - 1824)
Translation by Alexis Paulin Pâris (1800 - 1881)
From the last hill that looks on thy...
Language: English
From the last hill that looks on thy once holy dome I beheld thee, oh Sion, when rendered to Rome. 'Twas thy last sun went down, and the flames of thy fall Flash'd back on the last glance I gave to thy wall. I look'd for thy temple, I look'd for my home, And forgot for a moment my bondage to come; I beheld but the death fire that fed on thy fane, And the fast-fettered hands that made vengeance in vain. On many an eve, the high spot whence I gazed Had reflected the last beam of day as it blazed; While I stood on the height and beheld the decline Of the rays from the mountain that shone on thy shrine; And now on that mountain I stood on that day, But I mark'd not the twilight beam melting away; Oh! would that the lightning had glared in its stead, And the thunderbolt burst on the conqueror's head! But the gods of the pagan shall never profane The shrine where Jehovah disdain'd not to reign; And scattered and scorn'd as thy people may be, Our worship, oh Father, is only for thee!
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship
- by George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron (1788 - 1824), "On the Day of the Destruction of Jerusalem by Titus", appears in Hebrew Melodies, no. 22, first published 1815 [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 Samuel Bugatch , "On the Day of the Destruction of Jerusalem", published 1943 [tenor and orchestra], from Judea [ sung text not yet checked against a primary source]
- by Isaac Nathan (1790 - 1864), "From the last hill that looks on thy once holy dome" [voice and piano], from A Selection of Hebrew Melodies No. I, no. 22 [ sung text checked 1 time]
- by Arnold Zemachson , "On the Day of the Destruction of Jerusalem by Titus", op. 12 (<<1956) [tenor, mixed chorus, large orchestra, and organ], from Titus [ sung text not yet checked against a primary source]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Franz Theremin (1780 - 1846) , appears in Hebräische Gesänge, first published 1820 FRE ; composed by Johann Karl Gottfried Loewe.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Alexis Paulin Pâris) , "Sur le jour de la destruction de Jérusalem par Titus", appears in Mélodies hébraïques, no. 22
Researcher for this text: Andrew Shackleton
Text added to the website: 2005-07-28 00:00:00
Last modified: 2014-06-16 10:02:13
Line count: 20
Word count: 194
Sur le jour de la destruction de Jérusalem par Titus
Language: French (Français) after the English
De la dernière colline qui regarde ton dôme naguère sacré, je t'ai contemplée, ô Sion ! quand tu fus livrée à Rome. Ton dernier jour était venu, et les flammes de ta ruine ont éclairé le dernier coup-d'œil que je donnai à tes murs. Je regardai ton temple, je regardai ma maison, et j'oubliai un moment mon esclavage à venir. Je ne vis que l'incendie qui dévorait tes autels, et les mains trop bien enchaînées qui auraient en vain tenté la vengeance. Maintes fois sur le soir, ce lieu élevé, d'où j'observais ta chute, avait réfléchi les derniers feux du jour, lorsque, monté sur le sommet, je contemplais le déclin du soleil du haut de la montagne qui brillait sur ton sanctuaire. Mais en ce jour fatal j'étais sur la montagne, et ne remarquais pas les rayons du crépuscule se fondre peu à peu dans les ténèbres. Oh ! plût à Dieu que les éclairs eussent flamboyé en leur place, et que la foudre eût éclaté sur la tête du conquérant ! Mais les dieux du Gentil ne profaneront jamais le sanctuaire où Jéhovah n'a pas dédaigné de régner: quelque dispersé, quelque outragé que puisse être ton peuple, ô père céleste ! nos adorations ne sont que pour toi !
Authorship
- by Alexis Paulin Pâris (1800 - 1881), "Sur le jour de la destruction de Jérusalem par Titus", appears in Mélodies hébraïques, no. 22 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
- a text in English by George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron (1788 - 1824), "On the Day of the Destruction of Jerusalem by Titus", appears in Hebrew Melodies, no. 22, first published 1815
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this text: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]
Text added to the website: 2012-01-15 00:00:00
Last modified: 2014-06-16 10:04:45
Line count: 20
Word count: 210