The Complete Poems of Sir Thomas Moore Part 84

OH, COME TO ME WHEN DAYLIGHT SETS.

(VENETIAN AIR.)

Oh, come to me when daylight sets; Sweet! then come to me, When smoothly go our gondolets O'er the moonlight sea.

When Mirth's awake, and Love begins, Beneath that glancing ray, With sound of lutes and mandolins, To steal young hearts away.

Then, come to me when daylight sets; Sweet! then come to me, When smoothly go our gondolets O'er the moonlight sea.

Oh, then's the hour for those who love, Sweet, like thee and me; When all's so calm below, above, In Heaven and o'er the sea.

When maiden's sing sweet barcarolles, And Echo sings again So sweet, that all with ears and souls Should love and listen then.

So, come to me when daylight sets; Sweet! then come to me, When smoothly go our gondolets O'er the moonlight sea.

OFT, IN THE STILLY NIGHT.

(SCOTCH AIR.)

Oft in the stilly night, Ere Slumber's chain has bound me, Fond Memory brings the light Of other days around me; The smiles, the tears, Of boyhood's years, The words of love then spoken; The eyes that shone, Now dimmed and gone, The cheerful hearts now broken!

Thus, in the stilly night, Ere Slumber's chain has bound me, Sad Memory brings the light Of other days around me.

When I remember all The friends, so linked together, I've seen around me fall, Like leaves in wintry weather; I feel like one, Who treads alone, Some banquet-hall deserted, Whose lights are fled, Whose garlands dead, And all but he departed!

Thus, in the stilly night, Ere Slumber's chain has bound me, Sad Memory brings the light Of other days around me.

HARK! THE VESPER HYMN IS STEALING.

(RUSSIAN AIR.)

Hark! the vesper hymn is stealing O'er the waters soft and clear; Nearer yet and nearer pealing, And now bursts upon the ear: Jubilate, Amen.

Farther now, now farther stealing Soft it fades upon the ear: Jubilate, Amen.

Now, like moonlight waves retreating To the sh.o.r.e it dies along; Now, like angry surges meeting, Breaks the mingled tide of song Jubilate, Amen.

Hush! again, like waves, retreating To the sh.o.r.e, it dies along: Jubilate, Amen.

LOVE AND HOPE.

(SWISS AIR.)

At morn, beside yon summer sea, Young Hope and Love reclined; But scarce had noon-tide come, when he Into his bark leapt smilingly, And left poor Hope behind.

"I go," said Love, "to sail awhile "Across this sunny main;"

And then so sweet, his parting smile, That Hope, who never dreamt of guile, Believed he'd come again.

She lingered there till evening's beam Along the waters lay; And o'er the sands, in thoughtful dream, Oft traced his name, which still the stream As often washed away.

At length a sail appears in sight, And toward the maiden moves!

'Tis Wealth that comes, and gay and bright, His golden bark reflects the light, But ah! it is not Love's.

Another sail--'twas Friendship showed Her night-lamp o'er the sea; And calm the light that lamp bestowed; But Love had lights that warmer glowed, And where, alas! was he?

Now fast around the sea and sh.o.r.e Night threw her darkling chain; The sunny sails were seen no more, Hope's morning dreams of bliss were o'er-- Love never came again!

THERE COMES A TIME.

(GERMAN AIR.)

There comes a time, a dreary time, To him whose heart hath flown O'er all the fields of youth's sweet prime, And made each flow its own.

'Tis when his soul must first renounce Those dreams so bright, so fond; Oh! then's the time to die at once.

For life has naught beyond.

When sets the sun on Afric's sh.o.r.e, That instant all is night; And so should life at once be o'er.

When Love withdraws his light;-- Nor, like our northern day, gleam on Thro' twilight's dim delay, The cold remains of l.u.s.tre gone, Of fire long past away.

MY HARP HAS ONE UNCHANGING THEME.

(SWEDISH AIR.)

My harp has one unchanging theme, One strain that still comes o'er Its languid chord, as 'twere a dream Of joy that's now no more.

In vain I try, with livelier air, To wake the breathing string; That voice of other times is there, And saddens all I sing.