by Sir Alexander Boswell (1775 - 1822)
The Cornish May song
Language: English
Ye maids of Helston, gather dew, While yet the morning breezes blow; The fairy rings are fresh and new, Then cautious mark them as ye go. CHORUS. Arise, arise, awake to joy! The sky-lark hails the dawn of day, Care, get thee hence, from Helston fly! For mirth rules here the morn of May! Ye youths, who own love's ardent power, To yonder shelter'd bank repair, There seek the early op'ning flower, To deck the bosoms of the fair. (CHORUS.) Tho' ages close, and manners fade, And ancient revels pass away; In Helston, let it not be said, Forgotten is sweet Flora-day. (CHORUS.)
Authorship:
- by Sir Alexander Boswell (1775 - 1822) [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 (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "The Cornish May song", JHW. XXXII/4 no. 326, Hob. XXXIb no. 21 (1803). [voice, violin, cello, and piano] [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2011-09-10
Line count: 19
Word count: 103