Night clos’d around the conqu’ror’s way (Michael William Balfe)
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- Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2024-01-11). Score information: Letter, 8 pages, 449 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes:
General Information
Title: Night clos’d around the conqu’ror’s way
Composer: Anonymous (Traditional)
Arranger: Michael William Balfe
Lyricist: Thomas Moore
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong, Folksong
Language: English
Instruments: Piano
First published: 1859 J. Alfred Novello
Description: AFTER THE BATTLE
AIR: THY FAIR BOSOM
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Night closed around the conqueror’s way,
And lightnings show’d the distant hill,
Where those who lost that dreadful day
Stood few and faint, but fearless still.
The soldier’s hope, the patriot’s zeal,
For ever dimm’d, for ever crost–
Oh! who shall say what heroes feel,
When all but life and honour’s lost?
The last sad hour of freedom’s dream,
And valour’s task, moved slowly by,
While mute they watch’d, till morning’s beam
Should rise and give them light to die.
There’s yet a world, where souls are free,
Where tyrants taint not nature’s bliss;–
If death that world’s bright opening be,
Oh! who would live a slave in this?