The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti A variorum edition: Edited, with textual notes and introductions, by R. W. Crump |
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Moonshine. |
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 | The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti |  |
Moonshine.
Fair the sun riseth,
Bright as bright can be,
Fair the sun shineth
On a fair fair sea.
Bright as bright can be,
Fair the sun shineth
On a fair fair sea.
203
“Across the water
“Wilt thou come with me,
“Miles and long miles, love,
“Over the salt sea?”—
“Wilt thou come with me,
“Miles and long miles, love,
“Over the salt sea?”—
“If thou wilt hold me
“Truly by the hand,
“I will go with thee
“Over sea and sand.
“Truly by the hand,
“I will go with thee
“Over sea and sand.
“If thou wilt hold me
“That I shall not fall,
“I will go with thee,
“Love, in spite of all.”
“That I shall not fall,
“I will go with thee,
“Love, in spite of all.”
Fair the moon riseth
On her heavenly way
Making the waters
Fairer than by day.
On her heavenly way
Making the waters
Fairer than by day.
A little vessel
Rocks upon the sea,
Where stands a maiden
Fair as fair can be.
Rocks upon the sea,
Where stands a maiden
Fair as fair can be.
Her smile rejoices
Though her mouth is mute,
She treads the vessel
With her little foot.
Though her mouth is mute,
She treads the vessel
With her little foot.
Truly he holds her
Faithful to his pledge,
Guiding the vessel
From the water's edge.
Faithful to his pledge,
Guiding the vessel
From the water's edge.
Fair the moon saileth
With her pale fair light,
Fair the girl gazeth
Out into the night.
With her pale fair light,
Fair the girl gazeth
Out into the night.
Saith she: “Like silver
“Shines thy hair, not gold;”—
Saith she: “I shiver
“In thy steady hold.
“Shines thy hair, not gold;”—
204
“In thy steady hold.
“Love,” she saith weeping,
“Loose thy hold awhile,
“My heart is freezing
“In thy freezing smile.”
“Loose thy hold awhile,
“My heart is freezing
“In thy freezing smile.”
The moon is hidden
By a silver cloud,
Fair as a halo
Or a maiden's shroud.
By a silver cloud,
Fair as a halo
Or a maiden's shroud.
No more beseeching,
Ever on they go:
The vessel rocketh
Softly to and fro;
Ever on they go:
The vessel rocketh
Softly to and fro;
And still he holds her
That she shall not fall,
Till pale mists whiten
Dimly over all.
That she shall not fall,
Till pale mists whiten
Dimly over all.
Onward and onward,
Far across the sea;
Onward and onward,
Pale as pale can be;
Far across the sea;
Onward and onward,
Pale as pale can be;
Onward and onward,
Ever hand in hand,
From sun and moon light
To another land.
Ever hand in hand,
From sun and moon light
To another land.
| The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti | |