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Areytos or songs and ballads of the South

Simms, William Gilmore (1806-1870)

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[dedication]
  
FIRST FRUITS.—A PRELUDE.
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AREYTOS.
  
MY FOREST HARP.
  
COME, WHILE THE EVENING SETS SWEET AND CLEAR.
  
OH, THE SWEET SOUTH!
  
WITH AN UNPRESUMING FACE.
  
MAKE GAY THE SPEAR WITH FLOWERS.
  
EPIGRAM.—DEATH IS HERE.
  
EYES, EYES, YE HAVE LED ME TO RUIN!
  
DUSK, AND WITH HESPER!
  
WHY MEET ME WITH ASPECT SO CHILLING?
  
DOST THOU THAT NIGHT REMEMBER?
  
OUR COUNTRY IS A GALLANT BARK!
  
TWO SPIRITS, BEARING TORCHES.
  
SONNET.—SWEET LADY, IN THE NAME OF ONE!
  
BESIDE THE SEA.
  
HAYNE.—LET THE DEATH-BELL TOLL.
  
THE MOUNTAIN PROSPECT.
  
SONNET.—OH! PRECIOUS IS THE FLOWER!
  
“VOLANS VIDEO.”
  
SONNET.—METHINKS, YOUNG SHEPHERD, YOU HAVE DREAMED!
  
THE BALLAD OF OLD HICKORIE.
  
SONNET.—I'VE ROUSED THE KENNEL!
  
BALLAD.—THE JEWELL'D BREAST OF NIGHT.
  
WHEN I MET THEE, CORA LEE.
  
IF FROM MY HEART I TEAR THEE.
  
DEATH, BUT NEVER DISHONOR!
  
SONNET.—METHINKS THERE IS NO BLINDNESS.
  
SHALL ALL, THEN, BE FORGOTTEN?
  
WELL, LET THEM SING THEIR HEROES.
  
AH! HEARTS THAT LATE WERE BEATING.
  
ELEGIAC.—DEAR WANDERER.
  
STRIKE!—AS SAID THE ANVIL.
  
NIGHT SCENE.—HOW STILL IS NATURE NOW!
  
ASK ME NO MORE FOR SONG.
  
NOW, WHEN THE SPRING IS OVER.
  
ELEGIAC.—IT IS THE CAUSE.
  
THE MOUNTAIN WINDS.
  
DESOLATION.—ALL LONELY IS THE DWELLING.
  
LAMIA—THE BEAUTIFUL SIN.
  
ASK ME NOT WHITHER.
  
OH, THE DAYS.
  
MY MUSE, 'TIS TIME FOR MOVING.
  
SONG BE OURS.
  
THE BLUE WAVE MOUNTS.
  
I HAVE HAD DREAMS.
  
TO-MORROW!—OH, TO-MORROW!
  
LOW SLEEPS THE BARD.
  
LET THE BUGLE BLOW!
  
OH, NEVER STOP.
  
WHY BY THESE FORESTS LINGER?
  
'TWAS A MAID OF CONGAREE.
  
WELL, THOUGH THOU HAST DENIED ME.
  
COO! COO! THE WEET TU WHU!
  
WE SINK OR SWIM TOGETHER.
  
YE SONS OF CAROLINA.
  
OH! WHAT IF THE PROSPECT BE CLOUDED?
  
WE'VE SUNG AND WE'VE DANCED.
  
GIVE ME, WHEN DAYLIGHT SETS.
  
SLUMBER.—FROM THE ITALIAN.
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BETTER LUCK ANOTHER YEAR.
  
BATTLE ODE.—A TYRTÆAN.—FOR MUSIC.
  
SONNET.—WHY THE TYRANT?
  
THE LIFE MARCH.
  
EPIGRAM.—FROM THE SAXON.
  
THE HERO WORKER.
  
CICADA—THE KATY-DID.
  
AH, ME! THE SAD MISDOING.
  
THE CHRISTIAN WARRIOR.
  
I'LL BUILD FOR THEE AN ALTAR.
  
SING ME THAT SONG.
  
SONNET.—TO ONE DEPARTING FOR ENGLAND.
  
LADY, I KNOW THY HEART.
  
GUARANTIES.
  
IF NOT READY.
  
THOU'ST WAKED ME FROM THE HAPPIEST DREAM.
  
I HAVE WANDERED MUCH.
  
YOU MAY MUSE O'ER GLORIES GONE.
  
SONNET.—RESIGNATION.
  
FLIGHT, NOT FREEDOM.
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SONNETS.—WITH MY PORTRAIT.
  
I SEEK TO SING OF GLORY.
  
THIS LONELY HOME AT LEAST IS FREE.
  
THE LIBERTY TREE.
  
HOW STILL THE HOUR.
  
QUEEN HECATE'S TRIUMPH.
  
THE ECLIPSE OF HECATE.
  
SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES.
  
NO MORE!
  
NOW ROUSE THEE UP, OLD ENGLAND!
  
WELL, IF THAT DREAM OF BLISS.
  
OH, HAD I BUT THE POWER!
  
THE CHIMNEY CRICKET.
  
MY HOPE IS IN THE YELLOW LEAF.
  
BATTLE HYMN.—NOW RAISE THE MIGHTY SONG!
  
NOW WEAVE YOUR SPELLS, YOUNG MAIDEN.
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SONNETS.—DEFEAT—DISAPPOINTMENT.
 1. 
[I. A little farther on, the shadows deep]
 2. 
[II. If the good star that quicken'd at my birth]
  
QUIET IS ON THE EARTH.
  
AWAKE! AWAKE! DEAR LADY!
  
BATTLE HYMN.—COLUMNS, STEADY!
  
THE AMULET.
  
WHILE THE SILENT NIGHT.
  
GOOD-NIGHT!
  
WOODLAND VESPERS.
  
BE IT FOLLY OR FRENZY.
  
FRIENDS ARE NIGH.
  
NOW FARE THEE WELL, SWEET RIVER!
  
WHAT! AFTER LONG SEASONS!
  
OH! LINGER WE NOT?
  
BALLAD.—THE SIGH THAT SAYS.
  
GLORIANA.
  
NO, NEVER! THOUGH LOUD BE THE VOICE!
  
OH! SPRING HATH THE GAYEST GARMENTS!
  
WHAT SHOULD WE CARE FOR STATE?
  
AH! DREAMS, YOU SAY!
  
DESTINED TO SEVER.
  
RENDER THY TRIBUTE TO BEAUTY.
  
THE FAMILY VAULT.
  
THE APPROACH OF THE PESTILENCE.
  
EVA.—IF, 'NEATH THE SUNSET TREE.
  
'TWAS A VISION OF FAIR LADYE.
  
FORGET NOT THE TROPHY.
  
LOVE ON TO THE LAST!
  
GO, THOU FAITHLESS ONE!
  
TO THEE, WHEN RUDDY CUPS.
  
THIS FLOWER, IT BLOOMS 'MID A RUIN.
  
AH! LOOK NOT THUS UNKINDLY.
  
WERE I A BIRD!
  
SERENADER IMPLORES HIS MISTRESS TO COME FORTH.
  
COME OUT TO PLAY!
  
SONNET.—CONCEALED CHARACTER.
  
CHAUNT OF LONELINESS.
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HANNIBAL; PASSAGE OF THE ALPS.
  
CANZONE.—IF THOU COULD'ST SEE THE TEARS!
  
SONNET.—DREAM-LAND.
  
BATTLE OF FORT MOULTRIE.
  
THE WINGED STEED.
  
EPIGRAM.
  
THE SLAIN EAGLE. (Saluda.)
  
HORACE TO POLLY.
  
AH! HAD I BUT YON SWALLOW'S WING.
  
TO THEE, WHEN MORN IS SHINING.
  
OH, LOVELY WERE ONCE HER EYES.
  
BALLAD.—THE YOUNG HUNTER.
  
LONG I LIVED IN FANCIES.
  
THE TAX-PAYER.—A FRAGMENT.
  
DUSK, AND THE STAR.
  
BLOOD. (Impromptu.)
  
'TIS TRUE THAT LAST NIGHT I ADORED THEE.
  
HOPES WE HAVE NOURISH'D.
  
STANZAS.—'TWAS MEANT FOR THEE.
  
MEETING TO SEVER.
  
SONNET.—DAYS VANISH.
  
TO THE SEA.
  
RATTING. BY A YOUNG MOUSE, SIR.
  
NOW TELL ME.
  
LINGER AWHILE!
  
STAR THAT WOO'ST ME!
  
I BLAME YOU NOT.
  
LOVE'S REQUIEM.—LIGHT OF HEARTS!
  
JOY! JOY! FOR THE DAY-STAR!
  
LUTHER IN THE SHADES;
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THE TEARS OF VALOR.
  
EPIGRAM.—BOWS AND KNOTS.
  
WHEN WE PART.
  
AH! NO MORE OF YOUR ETHICS!
  
TOGETHER.
  
I DEFY THEE TO FORGET.
  
OH! FRAILER THAN HOPE!
  
STANZAS AT SEA.—SHADOWS.
  
BALLAD.—DORCHESTER.
  
MUTINEER'S SONG OF TAHITI.
  
KING'S MOUNTAIN.—A BALLAD.
  
SONNETS.—OH, FRIEND! 'TIS NOT MY CHEEK.
  
BALLAD.—WAKING, I GATHER.
  
HEAR THE TALE OF A BOYISH HEART!
  
WEEP O'ER WILL!
  
SONNET.—WEEP O'ER WILL.
  
SONNETS.—THERE IS A BABE OF BEAUTY.
  
EPIGRAM.—TIBBATT'S PLAYED LONG.
  
BALLAD.—OH! NOT TO YON GROVE!
  
BEAUTIES LATE THAT FED ME.
  
WITCH OF ELLANO.
  
ACROSTIC.—ALBUM.
  
ECHO-DUETT.—HERE IN THIS VALLEY.
  
SURFACE VIRTUE.—EPIGRAM. (From Proverbs.)
  
SWEETLY FALL THE DEWS.
  
THE BRIDE OF CHRIST.
  
SERENADE.—GUIDE ME, OH GUIDE ME!
  
SONNET.—AND MUST I SING OF BEAUTY?
  
TO A YOUNG GIRL.
  
BALLAD.—THE ASPHODEL.
  
SONNET.—TO W. PORCHER MILES.
  
BALLAD.—COME, LET US DISCOURSE.
  
BALLAD.—OH! MY BOYS!
  
PALO ALTO AND RESACA DE LA PALMA.
  
BALLAD.—'TWAS ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS.
  
THE NATURAL AIM OF A DECIDED SOUL.
  
CALHOUN.
  
LANDSCAPE.—SALUDA IN MIDSUMMER.
  
SONNET.—I WILL BREATHE MUSIC.
  
SONNET.—HERE ON THIS BANK.
  
SONNET.—DELPHI.
  
SONNET.—THESE ARE GOD'S.
  
SONNET.—THERE IS A MOOD.
  
SONNET.—OH! WHAT IS THERE OF MAGIC?
  
SONNET.—BENEATH MY CHAMBER WINDOW.
  
SONNET.—ALAS! AND THIS IS ALL.
  
THY PAGE IS PURE AS YET.—[In an Album, 1826.]
  
SONNET.—GOD GIVE ME STRENGTH!
  
SONNET.—THE RECORD SHOULD BE MADE.
  
SONNET.—THE OPEN SEA BEFORE ME.
  
SONNET.—ANOTHER YET, AND YET ANOTHER.
  
SONNET.—THIS FAERY VISION GLADDENS US.
  
THERE IS A PALE AND SOLITARY STAR.
  
SONNET.—WE ARE A PART OF ALL.
  
NOT BLIND TO MINE OWN WEAKNESS.
  
SONNET.—I DO REMEMBER ONE.
  
THOU HAST ENAMORED ME.

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88

ASK ME NOT WHITHER.

I.

Ask me not whither!—ask me not whither!
Fly with me, dearest, fly with me thither;
What if no flowers
Garland thy bowers!
What if no bird in thy roof-tree makes song!
Yet a true heart beside thee
Is throbbing to guide thee—
A heart that hath loved and hath sigh'd for thee long!
Oh! few hearts
Are true hearts!
Then fly with the true heart o'er ocean and earth—
Hither or thither—no matter whither—
Who wins the true heart, wins all that's worth!

II.

Be the home lonely, lowly as lonely,
Yet if thine, with the fond heart that offers it only,
What need thy bowers
The vain bloom of flowers,
Fancies that perish in moment of birth?
The true heart brings treasure
To crown beyond measure
The faith whose own flower is priceless in worth!
Oh! few hearts
Are true hearts!
Hast thou found one, yet ask better fortune than this?
Fly with him thither—no matter whither—
The true heart makes barrenness fruitful with bliss!
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