Vaughan Williams - Love bade me welcome

Love bade me welcome
from "Five Mystical Songs"
Music by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Text by George Herbert (1593-1633)
Scott Crissman, baritone
Kevin Kwan, organ
Christ and St. Luke's Episcopal Church
Norfolk, Virginia
Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eye’d Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,
If I lack’d anything.
A guest, I answer’d, worthy to be here:
Love said, You shall be he.
I the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,
I cannot look on thee.
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
Who made the eyes but I?
Truth, Lord, but I have marr’d them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.
And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame?
My dear, then I will serve.
You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat:
So I did sit and eat.
-George Herbert
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