 | Ballads and Lyrics by Katharine Tynan |  |
80
PRINCE CONNLA OF THE GOLDEN HAIR.
Prince Connla of the Golden Hair,
All day he goeth listlessly;
From the first dawn to sunset sky
He goeth like a sleep-walker.
For his old sport he hath no care,
His steed is idle in the stall,
His hounds are sleeping, one and all,
The rust his armour-plates will wear.
All day he goeth listlessly;
From the first dawn to sunset sky
He goeth like a sleep-walker.
For his old sport he hath no care,
His steed is idle in the stall,
His hounds are sleeping, one and all,
The rust his armour-plates will wear.
On a tall throne his father is,
The hero of the Hundred Fights.
Now his old dreams are sad o' nights
For his son's moon-struck fantasies
So fair, for any queen to kiss,
So brave, so strong, so wise in youth,
That was a sorry hour, in truth,
That slew the Kingdom's hope like this.
The hero of the Hundred Fights.
Now his old dreams are sad o' nights
For his son's moon-struck fantasies
So fair, for any queen to kiss,
So brave, so strong, so wise in youth,
That was a sorry hour, in truth,
That slew the Kingdom's hope like this.
81
Last night he heard the banshee grieve,
Outside his walls incessantly—
If for his own death grievèd she,
He would not go so sad this eve,
For life is not too sweet to leave;
But his young son whose heart will break
Just for a phantom lady's sake.
'Tis a vile net some witch doth weave.
Outside his walls incessantly—
If for his own death grievèd she,
He would not go so sad this eve,
For life is not too sweet to leave;
But his young son whose heart will break
Just for a phantom lady's sake.
'Tis a vile net some witch doth weave.
The Druid comes and stands by him,
Wise words may give the young Prince peace.
Lo! then a voice that will not cease,
Sweeter than any vesper hymn,
Sweeter than choirs in forests dim,
Rises upon the enamoured air,
With an old melody, wild and fair;
Prince Connla leaps in heart and limb,
Wise words may give the young Prince peace.
Lo! then a voice that will not cease,
Sweeter than any vesper hymn,
Sweeter than choirs in forests dim,
Rises upon the enamoured air,
With an old melody, wild and fair;
Prince Connla leaps in heart and limb,
And flushes, and his eyes are glad;
He knows the words the song will say:
“O my true lover, come away
To my bright land where nought is sad
From all those grieving doubts you had;
Where sickness cometh not, nor care,
Nor age to wither the gold hair,
Nor tears, nor Death that maketh mad.”
He knows the words the song will say:
“O my true lover, come away
To my bright land where nought is sad
From all those grieving doubts you had;
Where sickness cometh not, nor care,
Nor age to wither the gold hair,
Nor tears, nor Death that maketh mad.”
82
“Far in the west,” she saith, “it lies,
Gold pastures by a sapphire sea;
Our palace-towers stand silvery
Against the rose and amber skies.
There too our shadowy gardens rise,
With fruit and flowers like jewels set,
Where a brown nightingale singeth yet,
And lovers whisper lovers' sighs.”
Gold pastures by a sapphire sea;
Our palace-towers stand silvery
Against the rose and amber skies.
There too our shadowy gardens rise,
With fruit and flowers like jewels set,
Where a brown nightingale singeth yet,
And lovers whisper lovers' sighs.”
He hears, and sees her standing there,
A slim shape in her gown of silk,
Threaded with pearls as white as milk.
One scarlet rose she hath to wear,
Flaming against her shoulder bare.
She takes his hand in hers a while,
Drawing his heart out with her smile,
Prince Connla of the Golden Hair.
A slim shape in her gown of silk,
Threaded with pearls as white as milk.
One scarlet rose she hath to wear,
Flaming against her shoulder bare.
She takes his hand in hers a while,
Drawing his heart out with her smile,
Prince Connla of the Golden Hair.
The King and Druid standing by
Are grieved, there's nought to see at all,
Save a tree's shadow on the wall.
But hush!—Prince Connla suddenly,
With half a smile and half a sigh;
“A burden is an earthly crown,
A burden, and I lay it down,
And I go lighter till I die.”
Are grieved, there's nought to see at all,
Save a tree's shadow on the wall.
But hush!—Prince Connla suddenly,
With half a smile and half a sigh;
“A burden is an earthly crown,
A burden, and I lay it down,
And I go lighter till I die.”
83
Then by that shape invisible,
He's gone down the long forest aisle;
Flames the great sunset many a mile,
The goldenest sunset ever fell,
Thrilling with light incomparable
The sea-world and the startled land.
Lo there, a shallop by the sand,
Rocked, like a rainbow-tinted shell.
He's gone down the long forest aisle;
Flames the great sunset many a mile,
The goldenest sunset ever fell,
Thrilling with light incomparable
The sea-world and the startled land.
Lo there, a shallop by the sand,
Rocked, like a rainbow-tinted shell.
Crystal it was, with green and rose
Shot in it, like the irised dove;
A great bird at the prow thereof,
Flapped his wide wings like Arctic snows,
And chains of silver, fine and close,
Bound bird and boat inseparably.
To a gold rose grew sky and sea
Where the rich colour ebbs and flows.
Shot in it, like the irised dove;
A great bird at the prow thereof,
Flapped his wide wings like Arctic snows,
And chains of silver, fine and close,
Bound bird and boat inseparably.
To a gold rose grew sky and sea
Where the rich colour ebbs and flows.
And in that strange enchanted air,
The lovers stepped aboard and went
Sailing to that lost Continent,
Over the leagues of clear water.
But the King, standing spell-bound there,
Groaned, his great heart was rent in twain.
And never an eye beheld again
Prince Connla of the Golden Hair.
The lovers stepped aboard and went
Sailing to that lost Continent,
Over the leagues of clear water.
But the King, standing spell-bound there,
Groaned, his great heart was rent in twain.
And never an eye beheld again
Prince Connla of the Golden Hair.
| Ballads and Lyrics by Katharine Tynan | |