 | Areytos or songs and ballads of the South |  |
138
I'LL BUILD FOR THEE AN ALTAR.
I'll build for thee an altar,
And truly, day by day,
My heart shall never falter,
Its solemn vow to pay;
A sacred fire shall crown its height,
And sweeter shall its incense be,
That I will burn at morning's light,
Than ever came from Araby—
From 'neath its dark green wave, from off its spicy tree!
And truly, day by day,
My heart shall never falter,
Its solemn vow to pay;
A sacred fire shall crown its height,
And sweeter shall its incense be,
That I will burn at morning's light,
Than ever came from Araby—
From 'neath its dark green wave, from off its spicy tree!
I'll build for thee a palace;
And many a slave shall bring,
From thousand happy valleys,
The sunny gifts of spring;
No treasure brought from Lebanon,
Uraba's pearls, and Ophir's gold,
Though art hath wrought and valor won,
Shall match with thine when thine is told—
Oh! thine shall be a state most wondrous to behold!
And many a slave shall bring,
From thousand happy valleys,
The sunny gifts of spring;
No treasure brought from Lebanon,
Uraba's pearls, and Ophir's gold,
Though art hath wrought and valor won,
Shall match with thine when thine is told—
Oh! thine shall be a state most wondrous to behold!
They mock! but Love hath stories
Of greater wonders done:
Of realms of richer glories
Than hath the setting sun:
Of power no earthly monarch owns,
From lowly woodland hut to raise
A temple richer than his thrones,
And heroes better form'd for praise,
With gifts of soul, and spells, that still the world amaze!
Of greater wonders done:
Of realms of richer glories
Than hath the setting sun:
Of power no earthly monarch owns,
From lowly woodland hut to raise
A temple richer than his thrones,
And heroes better form'd for praise,
With gifts of soul, and spells, that still the world amaze!
| Areytos or songs and ballads of the South | |