 | Solitary hours |  |
166
FAREWELL TO GREECE.
Farewell for ever, classic land
Of tyrants and of slaves!
My homeward path lies far away
Over the dark blue waves:
Of tyrants and of slaves!
My homeward path lies far away
Over the dark blue waves:
And when I go, no marble fanes
From myrtle steeps arise,
Nor shineth there such fervid suns
From such unclouded skies.
From myrtle steeps arise,
Nor shineth there such fervid suns
From such unclouded skies.
But yet, the earth of that dear land
Is holier earth to me,
Than thine, immortal Marathon!
Or thine, Thermopylæ!
Is holier earth to me,
Than thine, immortal Marathon!
Or thine, Thermopylæ!
170
For there my fathers' ashes rest,
And living hearts there be—
Warm living hearts, and loving ones,
That still remember me.
And living hearts there be—
Warm living hearts, and loving ones,
That still remember me.
And, oh! the land that welcometh
To one such bosom shrine,
Though all beside were ruin'd—lost—
That land would still be mine.
To one such bosom shrine,
Though all beside were ruin'd—lost—
That land would still be mine.
Ay, mine!—albeit the breath of life
Not there I breathed first—
Ay, mine!—albeit with barrenness
And polar darkness curst.
Not there I breathed first—
Ay, mine!—albeit with barrenness
And polar darkness curst.
The bird that wanders all day long,
At sunset seeks her nest:
I've wander'd long—my native land!
Now take me to thy rest.
At sunset seeks her nest:
I've wander'd long—my native land!
Now take me to thy rest.
| Solitary hours | |