The Complete Poems of Sir Thomas Moore Part 111

In death's kindly bosom our last hope remains-- The dead fear no tyrants, the grave has no chains.

On, on to the combat! the heroes that bleed For virtue and mankind are heroes indeed.

And oh, even if Freedom from _this_ world be driven, Despair not--at least we shall find her in heaven.

HERE'S THE BOWER.

Here's the bower she loved so much, And the tree she planted; Here's the harp she used to touch-- Oh, how that touch enchanted!

Roses now unheeded sigh; Where's the hand to wreathe them?

Songs around neglected lie; Where's the lip to breathe them?

Here's the bower, etc.

Spring may bloom, but she we loved Ne'er shall feel its sweetness; Time, that once so fleetly moved, Now hath lost its fleetness.

Years were days, when here she strayed, Days were moments near her; Heaven ne'er formed a brighter maid, Nor Pity wept a dearer!

Here's the bower, etc.

I SAW THE MOON RISE CLEAR.

A FINLAND LOVE SONG.

I saw the moon rise clear O'er hills and vales of snow Nor told my fleet reindeer The track I wished to go.

Yet quick he bounded forth; For well my reindeer knew I've but one path on earth-- The path which leads to you.

The gloom that winter cast, How soon the heart forgets, When summer brings, at last, Her sun that never sets!

So dawned my love for you; So, fixt thro' joy and pain, Than summer sun more true, 'Twill never set again.

LOVE AND THE SUN-DIAL.

Young Love found a Dial once in a dark shade Where man ne'er had wandered nor sunbeam played; "Why thus in darkness lie?" whispered young Love, "Thou, whose gay hours in suns.h.i.+ne should move."

"I ne'er," said the Dial, "have seen the warm sun, "So noonday and midnight to me, Love, are one."

Then Love took the Dial away from the shade, And placed her where Heaven's beam warmly played.

There she reclined, beneath Love's gazing eye, While, marked all with suns.h.i.+ne, her hours flew by.

"Oh, how," said the Dial, "can any fair maid "That's born to be shone upon rest in the shade?"

But night now comes on and the sunbeam's o'er, And Love stops to gaze on the Dial no more.

Alone and neglected, while bleak rain and winds Are storming around her, with sorrow she finds That Love had but numbered a few sunny hours,-- Then left the remainder to darkness and showers!

LOVE AND TIME.

'Tis said--but whether true or not Let bards declare who've seen 'em-- That Love and Time have only got One pair of wings between 'em.

In Courts.h.i.+p's first delicious hour, The boy full oft can spare 'em; So, loitering in his lady's bower, He lets the gray-beard wear 'em.

Then is Time's hour of play; Oh, how be flies, flies away!

But short the moments, short as bright, When he the wings can borrow; If Time to-day has had his flight, Love takes his turn to-morrow.

Ah! Time and Love, your change is then The saddest and most trying, When one begins to limp again, And t'other takes to flying.

Then is Love's hour to stray; Oh, how he flies, flies away!

But there's a nymph, whose chains I feel, And bless the silken fetter, Who knows, the dear one, how to deal With Love and Time much better.

So well she checks their wanderings, So peacefully she pairs 'em, That Love with her ne'er thinks of wings, And Time for ever wears 'em.

This is Time's holiday; Oh, how he flies, flies away!

LOVE'S LIGHT SUMMER-CLOUD.

Pain and sorrow shall vanish before us-- Youth may wither, but feeling will last; All the shadow that e'er shall fall o'er us Love's light summer-cloud only shall cast.

Oh, if to love thee more Each hour I number o'er-- If this a pa.s.sion be Worthy of thee, Then be happy, for thus I adore thee.

Charms may wither, but feeling shall last: All the shadow that e'er shall fall o'er thee, Love's light summer-cloud sweetly shall cast.

Rest, dear bosom, no sorrows shall pain thee, Sighs of pleasure alone shalt thou steal; Beam, bright eyelid, no weeping shall stain thee, Tears of rapture alone shalt thou feel.

Oh, if there be a charm, In love, to banish harm-- If pleasure's truest spell Be to love well, Then be happy, for thus I adore thee, Charms may wither, but feeling shall last; All the shadow that e'er shall fall o'er thee.

Love's light summer-cloud sweetly shall cast.

LOVE, WANDERING THRO' THE GOLDEN MAZE.

Love, wandering through the golden maze Of my beloved's hair, Traced every lock with fond delays, And, doting, lingered there.