 | Songs and ballads by Samuel Lover |  |
THE VENETIAN LOVE CHASE.
A sea-nymph, fond and fair,
She loved a gondolier,
Who loved her songs to hear
Upon the stilly air,
Over the deep lagune,
When the midnight moon
Her silver path display'd—
(A path for lovers made)
But ah! that light,
So soft and bright,
Is sometimes crossed by shade.
But, lovers, do not fear,
Tho' the moon forsake the night:
For heaven hath other light
For a faithful gondolier.
She loved a gondolier,
Who loved her songs to hear
Upon the stilly air,
Over the deep lagune,
When the midnight moon
Her silver path display'd—
(A path for lovers made)
But ah! that light,
So soft and bright,
Is sometimes crossed by shade.
But, lovers, do not fear,
Tho' the moon forsake the night:
For heaven hath other light
For a faithful gondolier.
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And, night by night, more far
The gondolier would stray,
Allured by that soft lay,
And lit by one bright star.
Bolder and bolder, he,
Over the sounding sea
Pursued that witching strain,
But, ah! the lover's pain,
When to the shore,
With weary oar,
He sadly turned again.
But still he kept good cheer,
“For so fair a prize,” said he,
“I still must bolder be!”
Oh! fearless gondolier.
The gondolier would stray,
Allured by that soft lay,
And lit by one bright star.
Bolder and bolder, he,
Over the sounding sea
Pursued that witching strain,
But, ah! the lover's pain,
When to the shore,
With weary oar,
He sadly turned again.
But still he kept good cheer,
“For so fair a prize,” said he,
“I still must bolder be!”
Oh! fearless gondolier.
At length so bold he grew,
That, when the storm would rise,
And rayless were the skies,
Across the deep he flew,
Seeking that syren sound—
When tempests raged around,
He deadly dangers sought;
For life he held at nought,
Unless the charm
That nerved his arm
Love's sweet rewardings brought.
Oh! timid lovers, hear,
How the blue-eyed nymph at last,
For his dangers, bravely past,
Bless'd her gallant gondolier.
That, when the storm would rise,
And rayless were the skies,
Across the deep he flew,
Seeking that syren sound—
When tempests raged around,
He deadly dangers sought;
For life he held at nought,
Unless the charm
That nerved his arm
Love's sweet rewardings brought.
Oh! timid lovers, hear,
How the blue-eyed nymph at last,
For his dangers, bravely past,
Bless'd her gallant gondolier.
| Songs and ballads by Samuel Lover | |