Saracen Songs

Almona, Almona, awake!
The magic of the starlight is broken;
The desert is flooded with gold,
The gates of the East are now open.

Come, Queen of the desert, why sleep?
Thy beauty the day must adorn.
Why slumberest thou, and so deep?
Almona, Almona, 'tis morn!

O night of dream and wonder,
The sun indeed is high;
My soul shall cast asunder
Love's last doubting sigh

My tent no more a prison,
All fear and waiting past;
Love's sun hath truly risen,
For Love hath come at last!

Be thou mine eyes! 
I cannot see;
The vision dies; 
Who comes to me?

His horse's tread,
His helmet's blaze,
His lifted head;
Ah, day of days!

I hear his footsteps, music sweet,
As long ago they came;
One moment and we truly meet,
Ah, better love than fame!

A sun that sheds consuming fire,
A torch that blows to flame,
Is not more fierce than my desire
That kindles at his name!

Ah, my love[,] but thou art weary,
Thou hast ridden far and long,
And the mountain paths were dreary,
Let me cheer with meat and song

Thou, my lord, and I, thy lover,
I, most tender, thou, most brave,
Never did the twilight cover
such a master[,] such a slave.

Never forgotten that one day,
Never forgotten Love's sweet way!
Cruel was Fate;
Not yet too late,
Never shall Fate now say us "Nay."

Is it a dream? Never to part!
Shall I awake with sudden start,
Never to know
You lov'd me so;
Never to know your gentle heart?

Now is the day with beauty rife,
Peace after war, calm after strife;
Fate was unkind,
Fate now is blind;
This is Nirvana! This is life!

Farewell, farewell to all!
Sunlight and twilight, the hour belov'd of Allah.
Farewell, farewell the Desert;
farewell, Life and Love, and thou, Almona!

Never so stately a star
Rode the fair mansions of Heav'n;
Gods gather'd beauties afar,
Mine at her dark eyes were giv'n:

Matchless in beauty and grace,
Perfect in body and soul.
Deserts shall dream of her face,
Long as the ages shall roll.

Here in the heart of the hills,
Mark how a Saracen fell!
Love! how it stifles and kills,
Ah, my Almona, Farewell!