The fateful flower droop'd to death, The fair, false maid forswore her faith; But I obey a broken vow, And keep those wither'd blossoms now! Forget me not! Forget me not! Ah! would I could forget! But, crying still, "Forget me not," Her image haunts me yet.
Sweet lips that pray'd--"Forget me not!" Sweet eyes that will not be forgot! Recall your prayer, forego your power, Which binds me by the fatal flower. Forget me not! Forget me not! Ah! would I could forget! But, crying still, "Forget me not," Her image haunts me yet.
Life is full of trouble, Love is full of care, Joy is like a bubble Shining in the air, For you cannot Grasp it anywhere.
Love is not worth getting, It doth fade so fast. Life is not worth fretting Which so soon is past; And you cannot Bid them longer last.
Yet for certain fellows Life seems true and strong; And with some, they tell us, Love will linger long; Thus they cannot Understand my song.
Elleree! O Elleree! Seeing what none else may see, Dost thou see the man in grey? Dost thou hear the night hounds bay? Elleree! O Elleree! Seventh son of seventh son, All thy thread of life is spun, Thy little race is nearly run, And death awaits for thee!
Elleree! O Elleree! Coronach shall wail for thee; Get thee shrived and get thee blest, Get thee ready for thy rest, Elleree! O Elleree! That thou owest quickly give, What thou ownest thou must leave, And those thou lovest best shall grieve, But all in vain for thee!
"Bodach Glas!"[8] the chieftain said, "All my debts but one are paid, All I love have long been dead, All my hopes on Heaven are stay'd, Death to me can bring no dole;" Thus the Elleree replied;-- But with ebbing of the tide As sinks the setting sun he died;-- May Christ receive his soul!
[Footnote 7: "Elleree" is the name of one who has the gift of second sight.]
[Footnote 8: "Bodach Glas," the Man in Grey, appears to a Highland family with the gift of second sight, presaging death.]
The night is dark, and yet it is not quite: Those stars are hid that other orbs may shine; Twin stars, whose rays illuminate the night, And cheer her gloom, but only deepen mine; For these fair stars are not what they do seem, But vanish'd eyes remember'd in a dream.
The night is dark, and yet it brings no rest; Those eager eyes gaze on and banish sleep; Though flaming Mars has lower'd his crimson crest, And weary Venus pales into the deep, These two with tender shining mock my woe From out the distant heaven of long ago.