Fix this text
FUNERAL ODE
Fix this textIN MEMORY OF THE DECEASED EXPLORERS OF AUSTRALIA,
Fix this textBURKE AND WILLS.
Fix this textTHEATRE
Fix this textROYAL.
Fix this textWords by ------- J. SMITH, Esq.
Fix this textMusic composed by - - - - - - -A. REIFF, Jun.
Fix this textWILL BE SUNG ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1863.
Fix this textChorale.
Fix this textBack from its lonely grave we bring the sacred dust,
Fix this textA nation’s sorrow and a nation’s trust;
Fix this textWith kindred dead in consecrated earth to rest,
Fix this textWhere no irreverent hand its slumber shall molest.
Fix this textDenied in life the glory of the civic crown,
Fix this textUpon the heroes’ tomb we lay it sadly down;
Fix this textO’er the poor relics bending a dejected head,
Fix this textAnd honouring, too late, the mute, unconscious dead.
Fix this textSolo, Soprano.
Fix this textAglow with youth and hope they went
Fix this textWhere all before was dark and drear ;
Fix this textWhile o’er the unknown waste there lay
Fix this textThe shadow of an awful fear.
Fix this textDim perils wore gigantic forms,
Fix this textAnd solitude seemed more profound,
Fix this textWhere living creature’s foot had left
Fix this textNo trace upon the burning ground.
Fix this textBut, unappalled, the heroes held
Fix this textNew course across each trackless plain,
Fix this textAnd round them glared the blinding sun,
Fix this textAnd o’er them beat the tropic rain.
Fix this textSolo, Tenor.
Fix this textMorn after morn three fleecy clouds,
Fix this textMute messengers, would beckon forth
Fix this textAnd marshal the four travellers
Fix this textTheir way towards the glowing north.
Fix this textAnd ever, as the day advanced,
Fix this textWould melt into the stainless blue ;
Fix this textAnd ever, as the morning dawned,
Fix this textTheir pallid beacons would renew,
Fix this textTill on the Great Dividing Range
Fix this textIn breathless joy th’ explorers stood,
Fix this textAnd saw the trickling source of rills
Fix this textThat flowed into northern flood.
Fix this textSolo, Contralto.
Fix this textThen through the grassy plains they swept,
Fix this textThat spread from mountain unto sea,
Fix this textKnee deep in flowers, where 44 Woodnotes wild ”
Fix this textBlend with the murmur of the bee.
Fix this textThere came a day desired by all,
Fix this textLife’s brightest hour, perchance, for each,
Fix this textWhen Burke and Wills—their goal achieved,
Fix this textThe Flinders tidal waters reach ;
Fix this textOh! noble exploit, well fulfilled !
Fix this textOh ! splendid honour, bravely won !
Fix this textTurn, southward turn your wayworn feet,
Fix this textHeroes, your glorious work is done.
Fix this textSolo, Bass.
Fix this textNot so ! the " greatest is behind,”
Fix this textAn act of fortitude sublime,
Fix this textWhose memory each tender heart
Fix this textWill cherish to the end of time ;
Fix this textFor manly eyes will brim with tears,
Fix this textAnd woman’s voice shall falter, when
Fix this textThe story in its pathos tells
Fix this textHow fell these lion-hearted men—
Fix this textCalm, cheerful, steadfast, kindly, true.
Fix this textSurrendering their latest breath
Fix this textWith gentle words upon their lips,
Fix this textAnd smiling in the face of death.
Fix this textQuartette (Unaccompanied).
Fix this textOh, never shall the good old land
Fix this textThat breeds a race of sons like these
Fix this textWant men to plant her spotless flag
Fix this textOn unknown coasts of unknown seas.
Fix this textOh, never dies the spirit staunch,
Fix this textThe intrepidity that fills
Fix this textThe gallant hearts of heroes like
Fix this textImperishable Burke and Wills.
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
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http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-516436740
Smith, James & Reiff, Anthony & Theatre Royal (Melbourne, Vic.) issuing body. (1863). Funeral ode : in memory of the deceased explorers of Australia : Burke and Wills : will be sung on Wednesday, January 21, 1863 Retrieved January 23, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-516436740
Smith, James, Reiff, Anthony and Theatre Royal (Melbourne, Vic.) issuing body. Funeral ode : in memory of the deceased explorers of Australia : Burke and Wills : will be sung on Wednesday, January 21, 1863 [Melbourne]: Theatre Royal, 1863. Web. 23 January 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-516436740>
Smith, James & Reiff, Anthony & Theatre Royal (Melbourne, Vic.) issuing body. 1863, Funeral ode : in memory of the deceased explorers of Australia : Burke and Wills : will be sung on Wednesday, January 21, 1863 Theatre Royal, [Melbourne] viewed 23 January 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-516436740
{{Citation
| author1=Smith, James.
| author2=Reiff, Anthony.
| author3=Theatre Royal (Melbourne, Vic.) issuing body.
| title=Funeral ode : in memory of the deceased explorers of Australia : Burke and Wills : will be sung on Wednesday, January 21, 1863
| year=1863
| section=1 broadside ; 25.2 x 19.7 cm
| location=[Melbourne]
| publisher=Theatre Royal
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-516436740
| id=nla.obj-516436740
| access-date=23 January 2025
| via=Trove
}}
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