It lies not on the sunlit hill Nor on the sunlit plain : Nor ever on any running stream Nor on the unclouded main -- But sometimes, through the Soul of Man, Slow moving o'er his pain, The moonlight of a perfect peace Floods heart and brain.
Album of Seven Songs [or Seven Selected Songs]
by Arnold Edward Trevor Bax, Sir (1883 - 1953)
1. The White Peace  [sung text not yet checked]
Authorship:
- by William Sharp (1855 - 1905), as Fiona Macleod, "The White Peace", appears in From the Hills of Dream, first published 1896
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]2. A Christmas Carol  [sung text not yet checked]
There is no rose of such virtue As is the rose that bare Jesu: Alleluya. For in this rose contained was Heaven and earth in little space: Res miranda1. By that rose we may well see That he is God in [person]2 three: Pari forma3. The angels sung the shepherds to: "Gloria in excelsis Deo", Gaudeamus3. Leave we all this worldly mirth, And follow we this joyful birth: Transeamus.
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author ( 15th-century )
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
1 Res miranda = thing of wonder.
2 Maconchy: "persons"
3 Pari forma = Equal in form.
4 Gaudeamus = Let us rejoice.
Researcher for this page: Thomas Jaenicke
3. Sheiling song  [sung text not yet checked]
I go where the sheep go, With the sheep are my feet: I go where the kye go, Their breath is so sweet: O lover who loves me, Art thou half so fleet? Where the sheep climb, the kye go, There shall we meet!
Authorship:
- by William Sharp (1855 - 1905), as Fiona Macleod, "Sheiling song", appears in From the Hills of Dream, first published 1896
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]4. To Eire  [sung text checked 1 time]
To Thee, Beloved, of old there came The sailers of a thousand ships Who learned to love Thy hidden name, And love the music on Thy lips; But some, who thought to build Thy pyre And on its ruin rear a throne, Have loved to sit around Thy fire And count Thy saddest songs their own; And sons of Thine, who broke love's bands To seek a fabled far-off shore, Grope thro' the world with aching hands, And hunger for Thee evermore; For, tho' Thy sorrow may not cease, Tho', blessing, Thou are still unblest, Thou has for men a Gift of Peace, O Daughter of Divine Unrest!
Authorship:
- by James Henry Cousins (1873 - 1956), "To Eire", appears in The Quest, first published 1908
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]5. The enchanted fiddle  [sung text checked 1 time]
I come out of the west with the fiddle I stole from a Genoese ship; Lord! that was a treasure I captured When I gave the stranger the slip! I saw in the flower of the morning The folk coming up to pray O! little they'd mind their sins If my bow were to have its way. For I could lead them above the clouds And jewelled oceans of air, And I'd fiddle a golden laughter Till the Lord Himself would stare While the stars swing round in a measure Never was heard before And the blessed saints go whirling Over heavens fiery floor. Yet earth too was made for laughter Be it night or dawn or day And since its a long road to heaven, We'll dance ev'ry mile of the way.
Authorship:
- by Arnold Edward Trevor Bax, Sir (1883 - 1953), "The enchanted fiddle", first published 1919
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Researcher for this page: Eleanor Crossey Malone6. A milking Sian  [sung text not yet checked]
Give up thy milk to her who calls Across the low green hills of Heaven And stream-cool meads of Paradise ! Across the low green hills of Heaven How sweet to hear the milking call, The milking call i' the meads of Heaven: Stream-cool the meads of Paradise, Across the low green hills of Heaven. Give up thy milk to her who calls, Sweet voiced amid the Starry Seven, Give up thy milk to her who calls !
Authorship:
- by William Sharp (1855 - 1905), as Fiona Macleod, "Milking Sian", appears in From the Hills of Dream, first published 1896
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]7. Roundel  [sung text not yet checked]
Your yën two wol sle me sodenly, I may the beaute of hem not sustene, So woundeth hit through-out my herte kene. And but your word wol helen hastily My hertes wounde, whyl that hit is grene, Your yën two wol sle me sodenly; may the beaute of hem not sustene. Upon my trouthe I sey yow feithfully, That ye ben of my lyf and deth the quene; For with my deth the trouthe shal be sene. Your yën two wol sle me sodenly, I may the beaute of hem not sustene, So woundeth hit through-out my herte kene.
Authorship:
- by Geoffrey Chaucer (c1343 - 1400), "Captivity", appears in Merciles Beaute: A Triple Roundel, no. 1
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Vaughan Williams uses a version with more modernized spelling:Your eyën two will slay me suddenly: I may the beauty of them not sustene, So woundeth it throughout my hertë ken. And but your word will helen hastily My hertës woundë, while that it is green, Your eyën two will slay me suddenly: I may the beauty of them not sustene, Upon my troth I say to you faithfully, That ye be my life and death the queen, For with my death the truthë shall be seen: Your eyën two will slay me suddenly: I may the beauty of them not sustene, So woundeth it throughout my hertë kene.
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Ted Perry