Musical Works - Op. 27.
Words by: Henry F. Chorley
She sits before her Virginals,
And here and there a note she tries
Meanwhile the soft night breezes rise
With sound like elfin waterfalls
Waving the ivy on the walls.
And while with music's witcheries
She trifles pauses thinks she sees
His form the linden trees between
Hark! hark! to her fingers on the keys,
From yonder spiry cypress green,
Fond Philomel replies unseen, replies unseen
In plaint that might have words like these:
In plaint that might have words like these
Will the hour never come?
Will the moon never rise?
Will the gloom until day dawn lie over the plain?
Can I nothing behold Can I nothing behold?
For the tears in mine eyes
That fall for the roamer expected expected in vain?
He has forgotten me!
He has forsaken me!
He has forgotten me!
He has forsaken me!
Never, O never to love me again!
He has forgotten me!
He has forsaken me!
Never, O never to love me again! to love me again!
Never, never to love me again to love me again!
Her tired hands cease with them, the
Bird, As if expectant too, is still;
Till, in the distance, clear and shrill,
The ringing of a lute is heard;
And then her song in brilliant flow
Outvies the Serenade below,
As if the Nightingale could know
How deeply can the heart be stirr'd,
And poured forth that transcendent bliss
In love's own language, such as this:
O moon, in a measure of triumph go round;
O moon, in a measure of triumph go round;
Pass away, pass away, ye pale clouds;
All ye stars! show your light!
And ye royal red roses, in odour for sound,
Proclaim how my heart is exulting to night!
He has come home to me!
Far over land and sea!
Never, O never to leave me again!
O never to leave me again!
He has come home to me!
Far over land and sea!
Ye royal red roses, in odour for sound,
Proclaim how my heart is exulting tonight!
He has come home to me!
Far over land and sea!
Never, O never to leave me again!
O never to leave me again!
He has come home to me!
He has come home to me!
Far over land and sea!
Never, O never to leave me again!
Never! Never, O never to leave me again!
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Op. 27