When sultry summer suns prevail, And rest on the parching land, The cool sea breeze would I inhale, O'er the ocean breathing bland. A restless sprite, that likes delight, In calm and tempest found, 'Twere joy to me o'er the bonnie blue sea For ever and aye to bound.
I love the merry moonlight, So wooingly it dances, At midnight hours, round leaves and flowers, On which the fresh dew glances.
I love the merry moonlight, On lake and pool so brightly It pours its beams, and in the stream's Rough current leaps so lightly.
I love the merry moonlight, It ever shines so cheerily When night clouds flit, that, but for it, Would cast a shade so drearily.
I love the merry moonlight, For when it gleams so mildly The passions rest that rule the breast At other times so wildly.
I love the merry moonlight, For 'neath it I can borrow Such blissful dreams, that this world seems Without a sin or sorrow.
[18] Printed from the author's MS., in the possession of Mr H. S. Riddell.
OH, WHAT ARE THE CHAINS OF LOVE MADE OF?[19]
Oh, what are the chains of Love made of, The only bonds that can, As iron gyves the body, thrall The free-born soul of man?
Can you twist a rope of beams of the sun, Or have you power to seize, And round your hand, like threads of silk, Wind up the wandering breeze?
Can you collect the morning dew And, with the greatest pains, Beat every drop into a link, And of these links make chains?
More fleeting in their nature still, And less substantial are Than sunbeam, breeze, and drop of dew, Smile, sigh, and tear--by far.
And yet of these Love's chains are made, The only bonds that can, As iron gyves the body, thrall The free-born soul of man.
[19] Printed for the first time from the original MS.