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Text
To Gratiana Dancing and Singing
English source:
Richard Lovelace
See! With what constant motion
Even, and glorious, as the sun,
Gratiana steers that noble frame,
Soft as her breast, sweet as her voice
That gave each winding law and poise,
And swifter than the wings of Fame.
Each step trod out a lover’s thought
And the ambitious hopes he brought,
Chain’d to her brave feet with such arts;
Such sweet command, and gentle awe,
As when she ceas’d, we sighing saw
The floor lay pav’d with broken hearts.
So did she move; so did she sing
Like the harmonious spheres that bring
Unto their rounds their music’s aid;
Which she performèd such a way,
As all th’ enamoured world will say:
The Graces danced, and Apollo play’d.
Even, and glorious, as the sun,
Gratiana steers that noble frame,
Soft as her breast, sweet as her voice
That gave each winding law and poise,
And swifter than the wings of Fame.
Each step trod out a lover’s thought
And the ambitious hopes he brought,
Chain’d to her brave feet with such arts;
Such sweet command, and gentle awe,
As when she ceas’d, we sighing saw
The floor lay pav’d with broken hearts.
So did she move; so did she sing
Like the harmonious spheres that bring
Unto their rounds their music’s aid;
Which she performèd such a way,
As all th’ enamoured world will say:
The Graces danced, and Apollo play’d.
Composer
William Denis Browne
William Denis Browne (3 November 1888 – 4 June 1915), primarily known as Billy to family and as Denis to his friends, was a British composer, pianist, organist and music critic of the early 20th century.
Poet
Richard Lovelace
Richard Lovelace was an English poet in the seventeenth century. He was a cavalier poet who fought on behalf of the king during the Civil War. From Wikipedia. Continue reading here. Read some of his poetry here.
Performances
Previously performed at:
- Liebeslieder Walzer 17 Oct 2024
- 21. Kathryn Rudge, Sholto Kynoch: Vaughan Williams: Perspectives 1 18 Oct 2022