by Alfred Perceval Graves (1846 - 1931)
The song of the rose
Language: English
The Rose of Spring forth venturing Too soon to trust the zephyr with her worth, Her crimson smiles and fragrant wiles May waste instead upon the piercing North. For balmy blisses, his icy kisses Fall fast and faster upon her head; While, one by one, with woe foredone, She weeps, and weeps away her petals red. Ye maidens fair, now have a care How ye too dare that stricken rose’s fate! O, bide in bud, lest frost and flood Mar your sweet beauties with as sudden hate. For she who grieves that her gay leaves Unfold not sooner in the Summer sun, And tempts her fate, shall find too late Love over-rash may into ruin run.
Authorship:
- by Alfred Perceval Graves (1846 - 1931) [author's text not yet checked 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 Charles Villiers Stanford, Sir (1852 - 1924), "The song of the rose", op. 76 no. 1, published 1901 [voice and piano], from Songs of Erin, no. 1, London, Boosey [ sung text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Mike Pearson
This text was added to the website: 2016-09-13
Line count: 16
Word count: 116