”Dry those fair, those crystal eyes” is a poem by Henry King (1591-1669) Bishop of Chichester, set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1899.
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It was published in the Souvenir of the Charing Cross Hospital Bazaar, and its first performance was at the Royal Albert Hall on 21 June 1899.
Lyrics
DRY THOSE FAIR, THOSE CRYSTAL EYES
Dry those fair, those crystal eyes,Which, like growing fountains, rise,To drown their banks : grief’s sullen brooksWould better flow in furrow’d looks ;Thy lovely face was never meantTo be the shore of discontent.Then clear those waterish stars again,Which else portend a lasting rain ;Lest the clouds which settle there,Prolong my winter all the year,And thy example others makeIn love with sorrow for thy sake.Recordings
References
Dry those fair, those crystal eyes Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA