The Sea-King A metrical romance, in six cantos. With notes, historical and illustrative. By J. Stanyan Bigg |
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 | The Sea-King |  |
THE SONG.
VIII.
Noble man of mortal birth,
Heir of sorrow, heir of woe,
Think no more of what the earth
In its poverty can show:
Heir of sorrow, heir of woe,
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In its poverty can show:
Beneath the waters of the sea
Care shall never wound thy breast,
Peace and pleasure wait on thee,—
Mortal, mortal take thy rest!
Care shall never wound thy breast,
Peace and pleasure wait on thee,—
Mortal, mortal take thy rest!
IX.
Fear not here the power of death,
He may not enter to destroy;
Drink delight in every breath
Quaff the laughing cup of joy.
He may not enter to destroy;
Drink delight in every breath
Quaff the laughing cup of joy.
What has earth to show like this?
She hath nought like this to give?
Drink then at the fount of bliss
While thou mayest,—drink and live!
She hath nought like this to give?
Drink then at the fount of bliss
While thou mayest,—drink and live!
X.
While thou dwellest in these bowers
Thou art free from every stain,
Pleasures wait upon thy hours,—
Pleasures all unmixed with pain.
Thou art free from every stain,
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Pleasures all unmixed with pain.
Drain the earthly cup of joy;
Poison ever lurks below;
And her purest pleasures cloy
Mingled as they are,—with woe.
Poison ever lurks below;
And her purest pleasures cloy
Mingled as they are,—with woe.
XI.
Here are joys to thee unknown,
Joys, and charms that never fade;
Not like bubbles overblown,
Not like shadows of a shade.
Joys, and charms that never fade;
Not like bubbles overblown,
Not like shadows of a shade.
Joy shall ever be before thee,
Love shall laugh and skip behind,—
Pleasure's wing shall still be o'er thee,
Bliss shall nestle in thy mind.
Love shall laugh and skip behind,—
Pleasure's wing shall still be o'er thee,
Bliss shall nestle in thy mind.
What has earth to show like this?
She hath nought like this to give;
Drink then at the fount of bliss
While thou mayest,—drink and live.
She hath nought like this to give;
Drink then at the fount of bliss
While thou mayest,—drink and live.
| The Sea-King | |