18 Jun 99 - 04:04 AM (#87602)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE SOLDIER'S TENT
From: John in Brisbane
The soldier's tent
Text by Alma Strettell and Carmen Sylva, after Romanian peasant poetry collected by Hélène Vacaresco in The Bard of the Dimbovitza.
Music by Sir Hubert Parry (1848-1918)
Across the mountains the mist hath drawn
A cov'ring of bridal white;
The plains afar make lament, and mourn
That the flutt'ring veil of the mist-wreaths born
Hath hidden the mountains from sight.
The soldier lay smiling peacefully
Asleep in his tent on the sward,
The moon crept in and said: "Look at me,
A glance from thy sweetheart am I, for thee!"
But he answered: "I have my sword."
Then the rustling wind drew softly near,
Played round him with whispers light:
"I am the sighs of thy mother dear,
The sighs of thy mother am I, dost hear?"
But he answered: "I have the fight."
Then night sank down from the dark'ning sky
Round the sleeper, and murmured: "Rest,
Thy sweetheart's veil o'er thy face doth lie!"
But he answered: "No need of it have I,
For the banner doth cover me best."
By his tent the river, clear and wide,
Rolled onward its silver flood,
And said: "I am water, the cleansing tide
More blessèd than aught in the world beside."
But he answered: "I have my blood."
Then Sleep drew near to his tent, and low
She whispered with soothing breath:
"I am Sleep, the healer of ev'ry woe,
The dearest treasure of man below."
But the soldier replied: "I have Death."
Across the mountains the mist hath drawn
A cov'ring of bridal white;
The plains afar make lament, and mourn
That the flutt'ring veil of the mist-wreaths born
Hath hidden the mountains from sight.
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