For a Viola-da-gamba

For a Viola-da-gamba

(To be sung by a Eunuch)

IHAVE known beautyOf skies at eveBeneath the shadowsThat interweaveThe boughs that grieve.I have known beautyOf suns that setWith fire of amberAnd coronetOf pearl inlet.I have known beautyOf fields at dawnWhen April shiversOn gilded corn,And hope is born.I have known beautyOf Summer, Spring,Nebulous AutumnCloud gatheringWith frail-poised wing.I have known beauty—But none so fairTo match the splendourOf my love’s hairAnd snow limbs bare.

IHAVE known beautyOf skies at eveBeneath the shadowsThat interweaveThe boughs that grieve.I have known beautyOf suns that setWith fire of amberAnd coronetOf pearl inlet.I have known beautyOf fields at dawnWhen April shiversOn gilded corn,And hope is born.I have known beautyOf Summer, Spring,Nebulous AutumnCloud gatheringWith frail-poised wing.I have known beauty—But none so fairTo match the splendourOf my love’s hairAnd snow limbs bare.

IHAVE known beautyOf skies at eveBeneath the shadowsThat interweaveThe boughs that grieve.

IHAVE known beauty

Of skies at eve

Beneath the shadows

That interweave

The boughs that grieve.

I have known beautyOf suns that setWith fire of amberAnd coronetOf pearl inlet.

I have known beauty

Of suns that set

With fire of amber

And coronet

Of pearl inlet.

I have known beautyOf fields at dawnWhen April shiversOn gilded corn,And hope is born.

I have known beauty

Of fields at dawn

When April shivers

On gilded corn,

And hope is born.

I have known beautyOf Summer, Spring,Nebulous AutumnCloud gatheringWith frail-poised wing.

I have known beauty

Of Summer, Spring,

Nebulous Autumn

Cloud gathering

With frail-poised wing.

I have known beauty—But none so fairTo match the splendourOf my love’s hairAnd snow limbs bare.

I have known beauty—

But none so fair

To match the splendour

Of my love’s hair

And snow limbs bare.

Back to IndexNext