O vainly wise (John Wall Callcott)
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(Posted 2023-09-12) CPDL #75356:
- Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2023-09-12). Score information: A4, 3 pages, 167 kB Copyright: CC BY SA
- Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download.
General Information
Title: O vainly wise
Composer: John Wall Callcott
Lyricist: Thomas Campbell
Number of voices: 3vv Voicing: TTB
Genre: Secular, Glee
Language: English
Instruments: A cappella
First published: 1809
Description: A piece written for the members of the Concentores (glee club).
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Oh vainly wise the moral muse hath sung
That suasive hope hath but a siren tongue.
True, she may sport with life's untutor'd day,
Nor heed the solace of its last decay.
But yet methinks, when wisdom shall assuage
That grief and passion of our greener age,
Though dull the close of life, and far away
Each flower that hail'd the dawning of the day.
Yet o'er her lovely hopes that once were dear:
The time-taught spirit, pensive not severe,
With milder grief her aged eyes shall fill,
And weep their falsehood, though she love them still.