by George Meredith (1828 - 1909)
Marian
Language: English
And wiser when she wishes; She can knit with cunning wit, And dress the homely dishes. She can flourish staff or pen, And deal a wound that lingers, She can talk the talk of men, And touch with thrilling fingers. Match her ye across the sea, Natures fond and fiery; Ye who zest the turtle's nest With the eagle's eyrie. Soft and loving is her soul, Swift and lofty soaring; Mixing with its dove-like dole Passionate adoring. Such a she who'll match with me ? In flying or persuing, Subtle wiles are in her smiles To set a world a wooing. She is steadfast as a star And yet the maddest maiden: She can wage a gallant war, And give the peace of Eden.
Authorship:
- by George Meredith (1828 - 1909), appears in Modern Love, first published 1862 [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 Hubert Hastings Parry, Sir (1848 - 1918), "Marian", 1904-6, published 1907, from English Lyrics, Eighth Set, no. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Kurt Schindler (1882 - 1935), "Marian", op. 15 (3 English Songs) no. 3 (1912) [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this page: John Fowler
This text was added to the website: 2008-06-09
Line count: 23
Word count: 124