by Alfred Perceval Graves (1846 - 1931)
I pray you be patient
Language: English
Mourn not beyond measure, my long absent lover, These eyes dim with watching, this trouble-pale mouth, As for you they have faded, for you they'll recover -- Your violets, your roses, refreshed after drouth. Yet I pray you be patient, for, oh, I am tired, Too tired, too tired to be closely caressed; So take me and soothe me, my love long desired' As a mother would lay her own child on her breast. So long I have starved, oh, a little while longer Thus tenderly, slenderly portion my bliss. More now were too much, when I'm braver and stronger, I'll sigh back your whispers, restore you your kiss. O see how the shadows in sunshine are fleeting! O hark how the robins rejoice in the lane! There! lay my thin hand on your heart's happy beating, There! lift my tired head to your shoulder again.
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), "I pray you be patient", op. 76 no. 38, published 1901 [voice and piano], from Songs of Erin, no. 38, London, Boosey [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: 145