Part 2

XXV Lightly come or lightly go: Though thy heart presage thee woe,

XXVI Thou leanest to the shell of night, Dear lady, a divining ear.

XXVII Though I thy Mithridates were, Framed to defy the poison-dart,

XXVIII Gentle lady, do not sing Sad songs about the end of love;

XXIX Dear heart, why will you use me so? Dear eyes that gently me upbraid,

XXX Love came to us in time gone by When one at twilight shyly played

XXXI O, it was out by Donnycarney When the bat flew from tree to tree

XXXII Rain has fallen all the day. O come among the laden trees:

XXXIII Now, O now, in this brown land Where Love did so sweet music make

XXXIV Sleep now, O sleep now, O you unquiet heart!

XXXV All day I hear the noise of waters Making moan,

XXXVI I hear an army charging upon the land, And the thunder of horses plunging, foam about their knees:

Strings in the earth and air Make music sweet; Strings by the river where The willows meet.

There’s music along the river For Love wanders there, Pale flowers on his mantle, Dark leaves on his hair.

All softly playing, With head to the music bent, And fingers straying Upon an instrument.

The twilight turns from amethyst To deep and deeper blue, The lamp fills with a pale green glow The trees of the avenue.

The old piano plays an air, Sedate and slow and gay; She bends upon the yellow keys, Her head inclines this way.

Shy thought and grave wide eyes and hands That wander as they list— The twilight turns to darker blue With lights of amethyst.

III

At that hour when all things have repose, O lonely watcher of the skies, Do you hear the night wind and the sighs Of harps playing unto Love to unclose The pale gates of sunrise?

When all things repose, do you alone Awake to hear the sweet harps play To Love before him on his way, And the night wind answering in antiphon Till night is overgone?

Play on, invisible harps, unto Love, Whose way in heaven is aglow At that hour when soft lights come and go, Soft sweet music in the air above And in the earth below.

When the shy star goes forth in heaven All maidenly, disconsolate, Hear you amid the drowsy even One who is singing by your gate. His song is softer than the dew And he is come to visit you.

O bend no more in revery When he at eventide is calling, Nor muse: Who may this singer be Whose song about my heart is falling? Know you by this, the lover’s chant, ’Tis I that am your visitant.

Lean out of the window, Goldenhair, I hear you singing A merry air.

My book was closed, I read no more, Watching the fire dance On the floor.

I have left my book, I have left my room, For I heard you singing Through the gloom.

Singing and singing A merry air, Lean out of the window, Goldenhair.