Adela Cathcart, Volume 2 by George MacDonald
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page 4 of 193 (02%)
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give the words, as if that were the song. The music is the song, and the
words are no more than the saddle on which the music sits, the singer being the horse, who could do without a saddle well enough.--May Adela forgive the comparison!--At the same time, a true-word song has music of its own, and is quite independent, for its music, both of that which it may beget, and of that with which it may be associated. As she rose, she glanced towards the doctor, and said: "Now it is your turn, Mr. Armstrong." Harry did not wait for a second invitation; for to sing was to him evidently a pleasure too great to be put in jeopardy. He rose at once, and sitting down at the instrument, sang--I cannot say _as follows_, you see; I can only say _the following words_: Autumn clouds are flying, flying, O'er the waste of blue; Summer flowers are dying, dying, Late so lovely new. Labouring wains are slowly rolling Home with winter grain; Holy bells are slowly tolling Over buried men. Goldener lights set noon a-sleeping Like an afternoon; Colder airs come stealing, creeping After sun and moon; And the leaves, all tired of blowing |
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