Lay his sword by his side (Charles Villiers Stanford)

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• (Posted 2024-03-07)  CPDL #79428:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2024-03-07).   Score information: Letter, 8 pages, 584 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Lay his sword by his side
Composer: Charles Villiers Stanford
Lyricist: Thomas Moore
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong, Folksong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1922 J. Curwen & Sons
Description: Six Irish Airs (5)

AIR: IF THE SEA WERE INK

Original text and translations

English text

And it cries from the grave, when the Hero lies deep,
“Tho’ the day of your Chieftain for ever hath set,
Oh leave not his sword thus inglorious to sleep,
It has victory’s life in it yet!”

“Should some alien, unworthy such weapon to wield,
Dare to touch thee, my own gallant sword,
Then rest in thy sheath, like a talisman sealed,
Or return to the grave of thy chainless lord.

But if grasped by a hand that hath learned the proud use
Of a falchion, like thee on the battle-plain,
Then, at Liberty’s summons, like lightning let loose,
Leap forth from thy dark sheath again!