(Poem #820) Love bade me welcome
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, the 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.
Advertisements
Yo!
I didn’t know you had a blog. Great poem, as you know. Here’s Ralph Vaughn Williams’ setting, which I sang as part of my Senior Recital as a voice major at Wheaton. It’s part of his 5 Mystical Songs. After the first piece, the video goes on to “The Call” which is one of the other 5 Mystical Songs, which I also sang in my Senior Recital. I sang 3 of them, but “Love III” is by far the best one. Enjoy (don’t pay attention to the guy’s scrunched up face, just listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNMnGNL0-uw
I’ve always thought that this setting needs a drama by two people who act this out (silently) while the song is being sung over to the side or something. Perhaps an idea for one of our future fundraising concerts.
That’s amazing, Ben. Do you happen to have a recording of your performance? Did you scrunch up your face?
I do have an audio recording but I’m a bit embarrassed to show you – compared to the guy from that video my voice is less than great…