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Areytos or songs and ballads of the South

Simms, William Gilmore (1806-1870)

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[section]
  
[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.
 1. 
I.
 2. 
II.
  
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.
 1. 
[I. My portrait! will it serve when I am dead]
 2. 
[II. Yet why the portrait? If to thee as me]
 3. 
[III. The indelible hues of memory on my heart]
  
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.
 1. 
I.
 2. 
II.
 3. 
III.
 4. 
IV.
 5. 
V.
 6. 
VI.
 7. 
VII.
 8. 
VIII.
 9. 
IX.
 10. 
X.
 11. 
XI.
 12. 
XII.
 13. 
XIII.
 14. 
XIV.
  
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.
 1. 
I.
 2. 
II.
 3. 
III.
  
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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203

WHAT SHOULD WE CARE FOR STATE?

I.

What should we care for state?
Love's never desolate!
I love thee, spite of Fate,
And, loved by thee,
A gorgeous realm is ours!
Love plants the waste with flow
Wings bright the summer hours,
And sets hearts free!

II.

What if the proud should scorn?
That makes no heart forlorn!
Are we not free this morn,
To woods and skies?
May we not sing, not soar—
Dart wide, ascend, explore—
And what would Love ask more,
That Love denies?

III.

Love's the sufficient state
With such a charm 'gainst hate,
That it disarms each fate,
Asking no more!
Love found, as soon as sought,
Leaves us no need for aught:
Who lives in love that's bought,
Though rich, is poor!
204

IV.

We live, as birds that fly,
Having free woods—free sky
Free wings, and satisfied eye—
Thou me!—I thee!
No state—no hate—no strife—
All love—and love is life!—
And these are ours, dear wife—
Hearts fond, yet free!
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