Serenade (For Music)
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he western wind is blowing fairAcross the dark AEgean sea,And at the secret marble stairMy Tyrian galley waits for thee.Come down! the purple sail is spread,The watchman sleeps within the town,O leave thy lily-flowered bed,O Lady mine come down, come down! She will not come, I know her well,Of lover's vows she hath no care,And little good a man can tellOf one so cruel and so fair.True love is but a woman's toy,They never know the lover's pain,And I who loved as loves a boyMust love in vain, must love in vain. O noble pilot, tell me true,Is that the sheen of golden hair?Or is it but the tangled dewThat binds the passion-flowers there?Good sailor come and tell me nowIs that my Lady's lily hand?Or is it but the gleaming prow,Or is it but the silver sand? No! no! 'tis not the tangled dew,'Tis not the silver-fretted sand,It is my own dear Lady trueWith golden hair and lily hand!O noble pilot, steer for Troy,Good sailor, ply the labouring oar,This is the Queen of life and joyWhom we must bear from Grecian shore! The waning sky grows faint and blue,It wants an hour still of day,Aboard! aboard! my gallant crew,O Lady mine, away! away!O noble pilot, steer for Troy,Good sailor, ply the labouring oar,O loved as only loves a boy!O loved for ever evermore!
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