 | Australian Lyrics &c |  |
A MOSS ROSE OF ERIN.
Four willows burgeon in a row,
Beneath two oleanders blow;
Beneath two oleanders blow;
While trellised on a wire-net fence
Sweet peas breathe forth their frankincense.
Sweet peas breathe forth their frankincense.
Four roses by the window sill
The chamber with their fragrance fill;
The chamber with their fragrance fill;
Outside nasturtiums on the ledge
Give it a green and golden edge.
Give it a green and golden edge.
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Inside she stands, a servant girl,
The daughter of an Irish churl;
The daughter of an Irish churl;
And yet the bloom is not more sweet
On the rose trees of her retreat,
On the rose trees of her retreat,
Or the nasturtium sunnier
And fuller of lithe grace than her;
And fuller of lithe grace than her;
The oleanders, pink and white,
Are not more grateful to the sight
Are not more grateful to the sight
Than her fair face with blushes dyed
At finding love so near her side.
At finding love so near her side.
Pause by her, Love, for yon sweet-pea
Is not more innocently free,
Is not more innocently free,
And knows the world as well as she:
Nay, pass on, Love, and let her be.
Nay, pass on, Love, and let her be.
Transplanted hence, she might not bloom
As now in her own humble room.
As now in her own humble room.
A richer soil, a softer air
Her native graces might impair;
Her native graces might impair;
Art could not add a single charm,
And cultivation might but harm.
And cultivation might but harm.
Moss-rose of Erin, stay thou still
Where thou wert set by nature's will.
Where thou wert set by nature's will.
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