Part 1

cover

Chamber Music

by James Joyce

Contents With First Lines

I Strings in the earth and air Make music sweet;

II The twilight turns from amethyst To deep and deeper blue,

III At that hour when all things have repose, O lonely watcher of the skies,

IV When the shy star goes forth in heaven All maidenly, disconsolate,

V Lean out of the window, Goldenhair,

VI I would in that sweet bosom be (O sweet it is and fair it is!)

VII My love is in a light attire Among the apple-trees,

VIII Who goes amid the green wood With springtide all adorning her?

IX Winds of May, that dance on the sea, Dancing a ring-around in glee

X Bright cap and streamers, He sings in the hollow:

XI Bid adieu, adieu, adieu, Bid adieu to girlish days,

XII What counsel has the hooded moon Put in thy heart, my shyly sweet,

XIII Go seek her out all courteously, And say I come,

XIV My dove, my beautiful one, Arise, arise!

XV From dewy dreams, my soul, arise, From love’s deep slumber and from death,

XVI O cool is the valley now And there, love, will we go

XVII Because your voice was at my sidew I gave him pain,

XVIII O sweetheart, hear you Your lover’s tale;

XIX Be not sad because all men Prefer a lying clamour before you:

XX In the dark pine-wood I would we lay,

XXI He who hath glory lost, nor hath Found any soul to fellow his,

XXII Of that so sweet imprisonment My soul, dearest, is fain—

XXIII This heart that flutters near my heart My hope and all my riches is,

XXIV Silently she’s combing, Combing her long hair,