Stravinsky: The Rake's Progress / Act 1 / Scene 3 - "No word from Tom" - Cathryn Pope, Stafford Dean, London Sinfonietta

No word from Tom

Has love no voice, can love not keep

A Maytime vow in cities?

Fades it as the rose

Cut for a rich display?

Forgot!

But no, to weep is not enough

He needs my help

Love hears, Love knows

Love answers him across the silent miles, and goes

Quietly, night

O find him and caress

And may thou quiet find

His heart, although it be unkind

Nor may its beat confess

Although I weep, although I weep, although I weep

It knows, it knows of loneliness

Guide me, O moon

Chastely when I depart

And warmly be the same

He watches without grief or shame

It cannot, cannot be thou art

A colder moon, a colder moon upon a colder heart

My father!

Can I desert him

And his devotion for a love who has deserted me?

No, my father has strength of purpose

While Tom is weak and needs the comfort of a helping hand

O God, protect dear Tom, support my father, and strengthen my resolve

I go, I go to him

Love cannot falter

Cannot desert

Though it be shunned

Or be forgotten

Though it be hurt

If Love be love

It will not alter

Though it be shunned

Or be forgotten

Though it be hurt

If love be love

It will not alter

If love be love

If love be love

It will not alter

It will not alter

It will not alter

O should I see

My love in need

It shall not matter

It shall not matter

What he may be

I go, I go to him

Love cannot falter

Cannot desert

Cannot falter

Cannot desert

Cannot desert

Time cannot alter

Cannot, cannot, cannot alter

A loving heart

An ever-loving heart