The Self Banished
Encyclopedia
"The Self Banished" is a poem written by Edmund Waller
in about 1645, and is one of the first songs written by the English composer Edward Elgar
. It was written in 1875, and specifically for “soprano or tenor”. It is unpublished.
Edmund Waller
Edmund Waller, FRS was an English poet and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1624 and 1679.- Early life :...
in about 1645, and is one of the first songs written by the English composer Edward Elgar
Edward Elgar
Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM, GCVO was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos...
. It was written in 1875, and specifically for “soprano or tenor”. It is unpublished.
Lyrics
THE SELF BANISHED- It is not that I love you less
- Than when before your feet I lay:
- But to prevent the sad increase
- Of hopeless love, I keep away.
- In vain! (alas!) for ev'ry thing
- Which I have known belong to you,
- Your form does to my fancy bring,
- And makes my old wounds bleed anew.
- Who in the Spring from the new Sun
- Already has a fever got,
- Too late begins those shafts to shun,
- Which Phoebus through his veins has shot.
- Too late he would the pain assuage,
- And to shadows thick he doth retire;
- About with him he bears the pain,
- And in his tainted blood the fire.
- is vain for ev’ry thing
- That I have known belong to you,
- Your form does to my fancy bring,
- And makes my old wounds bleed anew.
- But vow'd I have, and never must
- Your banish'd servant trouble you;
- For if I break, you may mistrust
- The vow I made to love you, too.
Recordings
- Elgar: Complete Songs for Voice & Piano Amanda Roocroft (soprano), Reinild Mees (piano)