by William Robert Spencer (1770 - 1834)
The emigrant's grave
Language: English
Why mourn ye, why strew ye those flow'rets around to yon new sodded grave as your slow steps advance? In yon new sodded grave - ever dear be the ground! - lies the stranger we lov'd, the poor exile of France. And is the poor exile at rest from his woe, no longer the sport of misfortune and chance! Mourn on, village mourners, my tears too shall flow for the stanger ye lov'd, the poor exile of France. Oh! kind was his nature though bitter his fate, and gay was his converse though broken his heart; no comfort, no hope his own breast cou'd elate, though comfort and hope he to all cou'd impart. Ever joyless himself, in the joys of the plain still foremost was he mirth and pleasure to raise. How sad was his soul, yet how blithe was his strain when he sung me the song of more fortunate days! One pleasure he knew in his straw-cover'd shed, for the snow beaten beggar his faggot to trim. One tear of delight he cou'd drop on the bread which he shar'd with the poor, the still poorer than him! And when round his deathbed profusely we cast ev'ry gift, ev'ry solace our hamlet cou'd bring, he blest us with sighs we thought were his last, but he still had a pray'r for his country and king! Poor exile, adieu! Undisturb'd be thy sleep from the feast, from the wake, from the village-green dance. How oft shall we wander at moonlight to weep o'er the stranger we lov'd, the poor exile of France! To the church-bidden bride shall thy mem'ry impart one pang, as her eyes on the cold relics glance, one flow'r from her garland, one tear from her heart shall drop on the grave of the exile of France.
Authorship:
- by William Robert Spencer (1770 - 1834) [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 Harriet Abrams (1760 - 1825), "The emigrant's grave", published 1803 [ voice and piano ], London : Lavenu & Mitchell [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website: 2023-10-06
Line count: 32
Word count: 302