by Alfred Tennyson, Lord (1809 - 1892)
Airy, Fairy Lilian
Language: English
I Airy, Fairy Lilian, flitting, fairy Lilian, when I ask her if she love me, claps her tiny hands above me, laughing all she can; she'll not tell me if she love me, cruel little Lilian. II When my passion seeks pleasance in love-sighs, she, looking thro' and thro' me thoroughly to undo me, smiling, never speaks: so innocent-arch, so cunning-simple, from beneath her gathered wimple glancing with black-bearded eyes, till the lightning laughters dimple the baby-roses in her cheeks; then away she flies. III Prythee weep, May Lilian! Gaiety without eclipse wearieth me, May Lilian; thro' my very heart it thrilleth when from crimson-threaded lips silver-treble laughter trilleth: prythee weep, May Lilian! IV Praying all I can, if prayers will not hush thee, airy Lilian, like a rose-leaf I will crush thee, fairy Lilian, cruel little Lilian.
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Authorship:
- by Alfred Tennyson, Lord (1809 - 1892) [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 (Edward) Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976), "Lilian", 1929 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Maria Lindsay (flourished 1855-1875), "Airy fairy Lilian", published 1855? [ voice and piano ], London : Robert Cocks [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation possibly by Heinrich Proch (1809 - 1878); composed by Heinrich Proch.
Researcher for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2011-06-22
Line count: 35
Word count: 138