by Anne Hunter (1742 - 1821)
The Britons (Y Brython)
Language: English
When on the mountain's lofty brow Above the clouds in air I tread, Or hear the torrent rush be-low, Within the forest shade: Thoughts of the past, and forms sublime, Glide through the waste on viewless wings; I hear a Bard of ancient time, Sweep o'er his silver strings. Soft flows his melancholy strain, He sings of heroes, long since gone, Who fell on the embattled plain; With time their fame is flown. But dear to Britons be the ground, Where valour fought for glory's meed; And sweet the plaintive notes shall sound That mourn the mighty dead.
Authorship:
- by Anne Hunter (1742 - 1821) [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 Britons (Y Brython)", JHW. XXXII/4 no. 336, Hob. XXXIb no. 51 [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2011-09-19
Line count: 16
Word count: 98