 | Songs of the Sea Nymphs |  |
SONG OF THE MERMAID.
Canst thou Leander cleave the deep,And leave a maid like me to weep?
Oh! let these bright tears call thee back,
Why wilt thou swim this dangerous track?
Thy Hero's frown thou need'st not fear,
As yet no signal's waving there,
The well known rock is wrapt in shroud,
And slumbers like some mighty cloud.
Turn gentle youth, thou art too soon,
Oh! halt thee, while the yellow moon
Shall trembling rise o'er Helle's stream,
And light thee by her silver beam.
Come love, and braid my golden hair;
For thee my snowy bosom's bare,
My thin rose lips are thine to kiss,
And thou shalt roll in seas of bliss:
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This lily bosom be thy rest;
On melting kisses thou shalt live,
Such as no mortal lips can give,
On sheets of foam we'll glide away,
And live in love from day to day.
Round thy bright locks no wave shall rage,
For thee the storm I will assuage,
And wrap thee in my azure vest,
And sweetly soothe thee into rest;
And lay thee gently in my halls,
Of shining crystal are the walls;
Oh! come and view the sparkling dome,
Form'd from the crusted white sea foam,
And windows of the congealed wave,
And pearly baths where sea nymphs lave,
And coral walks, and amber bowers,
Where bloom our richest ocean flowers,
That throw through waves a fragrance sweet,
Such as no howling mad winds meet,
Not Boreas with his sweeping gale,
Nor Æolus who shakes the dale,
And bids the flowery odour ride,
Like lilies on the swelling tide;
Nor Enna's painted fields of gold,
Which gloomy Dis smiled to behold;
Nor all the sweets of Asphodel,
That throw afar a graceful smell;
Nor Araby's perfumed air,
Can with our ocean sweets compare;
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All that is pleasing to the sense;
Our groves which sprung from heavenly trees,
By us were planted in the seas,
When Neptune for the Olympian height,
To some great feast would take his flight
Then would he steal from Jove's bright bowers,
His choicest trees, and richest flowers;
And those ambrosial feasts above,
He'd quit for us, to feast on love.
To us those heav'nly flowers he gave,
Which in our ocean gardens wave;
We in return upon our breast,
Permit his glowing head to rest;
Nor dare do more, lest Amphitrite,
Should dash through waves of rolling light,
And on the amorous God alight;
If so, she would his trident seize,
Unchain the waves, let loose the breeze,
And spread confusion o'er the seas.
Come then sweet youth, and dwell with me,
Beneath the broad, blue, boundless sea;
See—where the moon thro' yon cloud rushes,
She's come to view our bridal blushes,
And when in sighs we die away,
She'll call the wand'ring stars from play,
And tell them all the charms of love;
Next night, the flaming hosts above,
Will mount their cars of shining gold,
And move in splendour to behold
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Will shine upon our soft delight.
Dian may teach the tender heart,
And on some bashful pale star dart,
Then press it sighing to her heart.
Come then my love, and with delight,
We'll view the streaming hosts of light,
In melting, glowing love unite.
| Songs of the Sea Nymphs | |