Love bade me welcome (Ralph Vaughan Williams)

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CPDL #17106:

Contributor: David Newman (added 2008-06-07). Score information: A4, 6 pages, 357 kbytes Copyright: Public Domain

Edition notes: Number 3 of Ralph Vaughan Williams Song Collection entitled "5 Mystical Songs" - File Sizes: PDF: 357 KB

Title: Love Bade Me Welcome
Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams
Lyricist: George Herbert

Number of voices: 1v Voicing: Solo Baritone, with SATB chorus ad. lib
Genre: Sacred, Art song

Language: English
Instruments: Piano
Published: 1911

Description: The work sets four poems by George Herbert, from his 1633 collection "The Temple: Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations".

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English text

Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,

Guilty of dust and sin.

But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack

From my first entrance in,

Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,

If I lack'd anything.

A guest, I answer'd, worthy to be here:

Love said, You shall be he.

I the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,

I cannot look on thee.

Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,

Who made the eyes but I?

Truth, Lord, but I have marr'd them: let my shame

Go where it doth deserve.

And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame?

My dear, then I will serve.

You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat:

So I did sit and eat.

Lyrics: George Herbert (1593-1633) , "Love Bade Me Welcome", from "The Temple: Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations", published 1633.