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ACT III

No. 22: SONG (Princess Ida)
"I built upon a rock"


Princess.
I built upon a rock,
  But ere Destruction's hand
    Dealt equal lot
To Court and cot,
  My rock had turn'd to sand!
I leant upon an oak,
  But in the hour of need,
    A-lack-a-day,
My trusted stay
  Was but a bruisèd reed,
A bruisèd reed!
    Ah faithless rock,
My simple faith to mock!
  Ah trait'rous oak,
Thy worthlessness to cloak,
Thy worthlessness to cloak!

I drew a sword of steel,
  But when to home and hearth
    The battle's breath
Bore fire and death,
  My sword was but a lath!
I lit a beacon fire,
  But on a stormy day
    Of frost and rime,
In wintertime,
  My fire had died away,
Had died away!
    Ah, coward steel,
That fear can unanneal!
  False fire indeed,
To fail me in my need,
To fail me in my need!
Sladen as Ida

Princess sinks upon a rock.

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Page modified 27 August 2019