Save me from the Grave and Wise is an Irish folk song. Beethoven composed 12 Irish Lieders, his opus 154 for voice, piano, violin and cello, published in 1812/13. Number 8 is based on Save me from the Grave and Wise. He used the theme of that song for his 7th symphony. The opening movement of dread of dull scholarship is over taken by a love of life, whipped up to frenzy in the coda and finale.
- Save me from the grave and wise
- For vainly would I tax my spirit,
- Be the thing that I despise,
- And rival all their stupid merit.
- Oh! My careless laughing heart,
- O dearest Fancy let me find thee,
- Let me but from sorrow part,
- And leave this moping world behind me.
- Speak ye wiser than the wise,
- Breath aloud your welcome measure,
- Youthful Fancy well can prize
- The world that counsel love and pleasure.
Save me from the Grave and Wise is originally a quote of Jesus of Nazareth from Matthew by Levi. It is particularly relevant here where the action is about young Adeodatus, St. Augustine’s bastard son, escaping from his father’s clutches.
Augustine with Jerome and Ambrose are said to be the pillars of the Church. Their largely unreadable scholarship dominated European political thinking for over a millennium. Augustine wanted young Adeodatus to follow in his father’s footsteps. Adeodatus had other ideas and thought his father personified the scribes and pharisees Jesus condemned as hypocrites.
Set in late fourth century Milan, western capital of the Roman Empire at its height. Augustine was spokesman for the emperor and the imperial court, role model for elegant mannerisms in dress and deportment as well as speech. Save me from the Grave and Wise is a lively read as well as a play for acting.
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ISBN-13: 978-1-66411-862-1
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