The morning was dawning in summer skies,
A ship at anchor there lay,
Where sombre firtrees majestic rise,
Reflected upon the bay.

The radiant day light was near its birth,
And into one fragrance blent,
The ocean's breeze and the breath of earth
Poured out each a stronger scent.

The somber bark that lay rocking there,
With tapering masts of pride,
To get under weigh 'gan now prepare
And spread all her canvass wide.

When the golden god of day doth rise
And gleam on yon mountain peak,
Then forth from her harbour away she flies,
Fairer, sunnier waters to seek.

Now lo! where glistens the rising light
My fair young bride I see;
Her form so lovely, her eyes so bright,
Like a roseleaf of summer she.

Her little white hand in mine is placed,
The future her eyes seem to read,
Her happy dreams' fulfilment now to taste
O'er ocean together we speed

Far o'er the sea, while hearts hotly beat,
Toward fair Italy's land.
Soon are we pressing with bounding feet
The Arno and Tiber's strand.

Thus life lay before her so sunny and clear,
It beckon'd her forth to sail.
She eagerly launch'd on her smiling career,
The Queen of a poet's tale.

Now God be thank'd that she had not read
In truth from the future's tome!
Full soon lay she motionless, cold and dead
In her grave so far from home.