Syren Songs
I. THE TEMPTATION
O step and try how along the smooth ocean,
As safe as the sea-bird thou'lt wander to me!
O step and feel how supreme the emotion,
To tread like an elve the green ooze of the sea!
Come and behold the wide deep in its splendour,
While bright shines the path from the sun to the shore,
Come while the waves their wild freedom surrender,
And humble their proud necks for thee to step o'er.
Firm is the flood to thy foot, and as fleetly
As wind shalt thou waft on its bosom secure!
Come while the blue sky is beaming so sweetly,
And air is so balmy, and light is so pure!
Fear not, sweet youth! — there's no guile in these numbers,
With me all the long summer's day shalt thou roam,
On the sweet-rocking waves of the west, — for thy slumbers
A couch of red coral swings light in the foam.
Step then and try how along the broad level
Thou'lt follow the Sun to his cave in the deep!
O step, and join at his red evening revel
The loud liquid chorus that lulls him to sleep!
With songs I will lull thee, so dulcet, so tender,
The bee cannot murmur as soft to the rose;
With my bright golden harp, gentle youth, I will render
Thy slumbers as calm as an Angel's repose!
Step then, O step! and we'll tread a wild measure
As far as the sunbeams lie smooth on the main!
O step! and try if so blissful a pleasure
Will ne'er tempt thee o'er the bright waters again!
II. THE PREVAILMENT
Listen Youth! O listen, listen,
To my dittying lyre and song!
She whose eyes so gently glisten,
Cannot will thee wrong!
O that unto thee, as me,
Deep dominion of the sea,
Did, sweet youth, belong!
'Neath the wave there is no sorrow —
Love the only pain we know!
Jocund night brings joyful morrow
To the bowers below!
At the green foot of this well,
Lies my glassy bower and cell,
Will the Mortal go?
I will give thee green shell-armour,
Chrystal spear, and helm of gold;
Sword of proof against the charmer,
Like a Knight of old!
Thou shalt in a chariot brave,
Roam the deep, and ride the wave —
Dar'st thou be so bold?
O'er the wan-blue waters sliding,
What proud pleasure it will be,
Thy wild ocean-coursers guiding,
To be-lord the sea!
Down the rocky ladder steep
Winding to the wondrous deep,
Come, O come with me!
Treasures past the power of telling,
Richly shall the deed repay
Come! I hear the sea-caves knelling,
" Come! O come away! "
Come and boast thee to have been
Wanderer of the sea-bed green,
Till thy dying day!
III. THE REVELLING
Quaff! O quaff the coral wine,
Prest in our sea-vintage yearly,
Every crimson-berried vine
Melts as lusciously and clearly;
Quaff! O quaff the coral wine,
Bower and all within are thine!
Lays of love and hymns divine,
I will sing, thy couch attending,
With the perfume of the wine
The sweet breath of music blending;
Quaff! O quaff the coral wine,
Bower and all within are thine!
Thrilling soft this harp of mine,
Strewing boughs with coral laden,
Pouring high the crested wine;
I will be thy Bower-Maiden;
Quaff! O quaff the coral wine, —
Bower and all within are thine!
IV. THE LURING-ON
When westering winds the ocean soothe,
Till calm as Heaven's blue waste it be,
How sweet to glide from smooth to smooth,
Like halcyons of the under sea!
How brave to tread the glistening sands
That lie in amber wreaths below:
The twisted toil of faery hands
Condemned to swing them to and fro!
My bright harp with its golden tongue,
Speaks sweetly thro' the lucid wave,
And says its chords need scarce be rung,
While floods so soft its bosom lave.
Broad-handed Neptune aye will beat
In milder mood this harp of mine;
So think not, if the song be sweet,
Think not the melody is mine!
V. THE SEA-RITUAL
Prayer unsaid, and mass unsung,
Deadman's dirge must still be rung:
Dingle-dong, the dead-bells sound!
Mermen chant his dirge around!
Wash him bloodless, smoothe him fair,
Stretch his limbs, and sleek his hair:
Dingle-dong, the dead-bells go!
Mermen swing them to and fro!
In the wormless sands shall he
Feast for no foul gluttons be:
Dingle-dong, the dead-bells chime
Mermen keep the tone and time!
We must with a tombstone brave
Shut the shark out from his grave:
Dingle-dong, the dead-bells toll!
Mermen dirgers ring his knoll!
Such a slab will we lay o'er him
All the dead shall rise before him!
Dingle-dong, the dead-bells boom;
Mermen lay him in his tomb!
VI. THE MERMAIDENS' VESPER-HYMN
Troop home to silent grots and caves!
Troop home! and mimic as you go
The mournful winding of the waves
Which to their dark abysses flow.
At this sweet hour, all things beside
In amorous pairs to covert creep;
The swans that brush the evening tide
Homeward in snowy couples keep.
In his green den the murmuring seal
Close by his sleek companion lies;
While singly we to bedward steal,
And close in fruitless sleep our eyes.
In bowers of love men take their rest,
In loveless bowers we sigh alone,
With bosom-friends are others blest, —
But we have none! but we have none!
O step and try how along the smooth ocean,
As safe as the sea-bird thou'lt wander to me!
O step and feel how supreme the emotion,
To tread like an elve the green ooze of the sea!
Come and behold the wide deep in its splendour,
While bright shines the path from the sun to the shore,
Come while the waves their wild freedom surrender,
And humble their proud necks for thee to step o'er.
Firm is the flood to thy foot, and as fleetly
As wind shalt thou waft on its bosom secure!
Come while the blue sky is beaming so sweetly,
And air is so balmy, and light is so pure!
Fear not, sweet youth! — there's no guile in these numbers,
With me all the long summer's day shalt thou roam,
On the sweet-rocking waves of the west, — for thy slumbers
A couch of red coral swings light in the foam.
Step then and try how along the broad level
Thou'lt follow the Sun to his cave in the deep!
O step, and join at his red evening revel
The loud liquid chorus that lulls him to sleep!
With songs I will lull thee, so dulcet, so tender,
The bee cannot murmur as soft to the rose;
With my bright golden harp, gentle youth, I will render
Thy slumbers as calm as an Angel's repose!
Step then, O step! and we'll tread a wild measure
As far as the sunbeams lie smooth on the main!
O step! and try if so blissful a pleasure
Will ne'er tempt thee o'er the bright waters again!
II. THE PREVAILMENT
Listen Youth! O listen, listen,
To my dittying lyre and song!
She whose eyes so gently glisten,
Cannot will thee wrong!
O that unto thee, as me,
Deep dominion of the sea,
Did, sweet youth, belong!
'Neath the wave there is no sorrow —
Love the only pain we know!
Jocund night brings joyful morrow
To the bowers below!
At the green foot of this well,
Lies my glassy bower and cell,
Will the Mortal go?
I will give thee green shell-armour,
Chrystal spear, and helm of gold;
Sword of proof against the charmer,
Like a Knight of old!
Thou shalt in a chariot brave,
Roam the deep, and ride the wave —
Dar'st thou be so bold?
O'er the wan-blue waters sliding,
What proud pleasure it will be,
Thy wild ocean-coursers guiding,
To be-lord the sea!
Down the rocky ladder steep
Winding to the wondrous deep,
Come, O come with me!
Treasures past the power of telling,
Richly shall the deed repay
Come! I hear the sea-caves knelling,
" Come! O come away! "
Come and boast thee to have been
Wanderer of the sea-bed green,
Till thy dying day!
III. THE REVELLING
Quaff! O quaff the coral wine,
Prest in our sea-vintage yearly,
Every crimson-berried vine
Melts as lusciously and clearly;
Quaff! O quaff the coral wine,
Bower and all within are thine!
Lays of love and hymns divine,
I will sing, thy couch attending,
With the perfume of the wine
The sweet breath of music blending;
Quaff! O quaff the coral wine,
Bower and all within are thine!
Thrilling soft this harp of mine,
Strewing boughs with coral laden,
Pouring high the crested wine;
I will be thy Bower-Maiden;
Quaff! O quaff the coral wine, —
Bower and all within are thine!
IV. THE LURING-ON
When westering winds the ocean soothe,
Till calm as Heaven's blue waste it be,
How sweet to glide from smooth to smooth,
Like halcyons of the under sea!
How brave to tread the glistening sands
That lie in amber wreaths below:
The twisted toil of faery hands
Condemned to swing them to and fro!
My bright harp with its golden tongue,
Speaks sweetly thro' the lucid wave,
And says its chords need scarce be rung,
While floods so soft its bosom lave.
Broad-handed Neptune aye will beat
In milder mood this harp of mine;
So think not, if the song be sweet,
Think not the melody is mine!
V. THE SEA-RITUAL
Prayer unsaid, and mass unsung,
Deadman's dirge must still be rung:
Dingle-dong, the dead-bells sound!
Mermen chant his dirge around!
Wash him bloodless, smoothe him fair,
Stretch his limbs, and sleek his hair:
Dingle-dong, the dead-bells go!
Mermen swing them to and fro!
In the wormless sands shall he
Feast for no foul gluttons be:
Dingle-dong, the dead-bells chime
Mermen keep the tone and time!
We must with a tombstone brave
Shut the shark out from his grave:
Dingle-dong, the dead-bells toll!
Mermen dirgers ring his knoll!
Such a slab will we lay o'er him
All the dead shall rise before him!
Dingle-dong, the dead-bells boom;
Mermen lay him in his tomb!
VI. THE MERMAIDENS' VESPER-HYMN
Troop home to silent grots and caves!
Troop home! and mimic as you go
The mournful winding of the waves
Which to their dark abysses flow.
At this sweet hour, all things beside
In amorous pairs to covert creep;
The swans that brush the evening tide
Homeward in snowy couples keep.
In his green den the murmuring seal
Close by his sleek companion lies;
While singly we to bedward steal,
And close in fruitless sleep our eyes.
In bowers of love men take their rest,
In loveless bowers we sigh alone,
With bosom-friends are others blest, —
But we have none! but we have none!
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