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Antonio Lyrics by W. H. Auden

The Sea And the Mirror: A Commentary on Shakespeare’s The Tempest

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As all the pigs have turned back into men
And the sky is auspicious and the sea
Calm as a clock, we can all go home again.
Yes, it undoubtedly looks as if we
Could take life as easily now as tales
Write ever-after: not only are the
Two heads silhouetted against the sails
--And kissing, of course-- well built, but the lean
Fool is quite a person, the fingernails
Of the dear old butler for once quite clean,
And the royal passengers quite as good
As rustics, perhaps better, for they mean
What they say, without, as a rustic would,
Casting reflections on the courtly crew.
Yes, brother Prospero, your grouping could
Not be more effective: given a few
Incomplete objects and a nice warm day,
What a lot a little music can do.
Dotted about the deck they doze or play,
Your loyal subjects all, grateful enough
To know their place and believe what you say.
Antonio, sweet brother, has to laugh.
How easy you have made it to refuse
Peace to your greatness! Break your wand in half,
The fragments will join; burn your books or lose
Them in the sea, they will soon reappear,
Not even damaged: as long as I choose
To wear my fashion, whatever you wear
Is a magic robe; while I stand outside
Your circle, the will to charm is still there.
As I exist so you shall be denied,
Forced to remain our melancholy mentor,
The grown-up man, adult in his pride,
Never have time to curl up at the centre
Time turns on when completely reconciled;
Never become and therefore never enter
The green occluded pasture as a child.
Your all is partial, Prospero;
My will is all my own:
Your need to love shall never know
Me: I am I, Antonio,
By choice myself alone.
Credits
W. H. Auden

W. H. Auden

About “Antonio” by W. H. Auden

Read the complete lyrics to "Antonio" by W. H. Auden from the album "The Sea And the Mirror: A Commentary on Shakespeare’s The Tempest". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Poetry, Non-Music.

"Antonio" is performed by W. H. Auden. from the album "The Sea And the Mirror: A Commentary on Shakespeare’s The Tempest" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Antonio", explore more songs by W. H. Auden using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Antonio" is credited to W. H. Auden. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Antonio" appears on "The Sea And the Mirror: A Commentary on Shakespeare’s The Tempest".

Visit the W. H. Auden artist page at /artist/w-h-auden for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.