Songs of love and spring

Sir Spring in shining armour goes,
He rides in knightly manner,
On field of vert a crimson rose
The blazon of his banner.

His sword of sunbeam, dipp'd in dew,
With tireless ardour flashes,
Till, winter's icy helmet through,
Victoriously it crashes.

And now from ev'ry hill and vale
Enraptur'd songs are ringing,
Above his head the nightingale
With herald note comes winging.

And every heart, at Spring's appeal,
Obeys a law immortal,
And, tho' encased in triple steel,
Must open wide its portal,

Must open wide in homage free
And yield a liege's duty
To her that hath his heart in fee,
The Queen of Love and Beauty.

When with sap the vine's athrill,
Then expect the swallow;
When proud eyes for pity fill,
Love's not far to follow.

All the hearts of all the flow'rs
Love is now unlocking;
Nut-brown maid, beware of yours,
When young love comes knocking.

Love's April mood, ah me!
With sun and glittering shower,
Frost and blossoming bower,
Storm and slumbering sea.
With fears and tears and distresses,
With dreams and shadowy guesses,
With smiles and wiles and caresses,
Ah, Love! what mayst thou be?

A ray from out the ruby,
It sparkles and is fled,
A jet of fiery purple!
And lo! the grape is sped.

But through the dusky lashes,
That fringe your orbs divine,
The dawning love-light flashes,
And thrills this heart of mine.

Since first you looked upon me
And looked my heart away,
My thoughts have never rested
For longing, night and day.

As homing swallows flutter
O'er woodland, lake and lea,
They soar and fly for ever
To thee, alone to thee.

And though the mountains were golden,
And though the rivers ran wine,
I'd pass them all by, my beloved,
I'd pass them to make thee mine!

When first the lamp of love is lit,
Within a maiden heart to hide,
Ah, never quench the tender flame
That Heav'n itself has sanctified.

If under God's own courts above
There yet remains one holy spot,
It is the heart of first true love -
Disturb it not! Disturb it not!

Oh darken not those rainbow skies,
Invade ye not that dream of May,
Ye know not what a Paradise
For evermore might pass away.

When first the lamp of love is lit,
Within a maiden heart to hide,
Ah, never quench the tender flame
That Heav'n itself has sanctified.
Disturb it not!

Bridges, golden bridges
All my songs shall be,
For my love to travel,
Sweetest child, to thee.

Dream-wings then shall waft me
Through the starry night
To thy faithful bosom.
Oh my heart's delight!

The scent of violets, by my pillow blowing,
So stole upon my senses that I dreamed;
Methought, alog a mountain pathway going,
I came where fragrant hosts of violets gleamed.
So thick they grew, such heavenly perfume strowing,
A very Paradise on earth it seemed.
Then spoke my heart: "Her eyes have rested yonder
And left where'er they shone this violet wonder."

Are the stars that beam above us,
When the sunset fades from Heav'n,
Shining flocks by Night, the Shepherd,
Through the fields of azure driv'n?

Are they hosts of silver lilies,
From their crystal-chaliced flow'rs
Wafting streams of blest oblivion
To this toiling world of ours?

Are they myriad clust'ring candles
Twinkling out at Heav'n's high Altar,
That across the dome of darkness
Through the holy stillnes falter?

No! they are love's silent music,
Shining out at Heav'n's portal,
In a thousand golden cyphers
Angel-written and immortal!

She:
I am the rose upon the mead,
In silent fragrance flow'ring,
But Love's the dew with pearly bead
Upon my petals show'ring.

He:
I was the rugged jasper stone,
That in the earth lay darkling,
And thou the light, and thou alone.
That set its colours sparkling.

She:
I am the cup of crystal shine,
Before a monarch gleaming,
But Love's the rosy nectar wine
Into the goblet streaming.

He:
I was a mortal sore dismayed,
Such darkness overspread me,
But thine the steadfast hand that stayed
And into daylight led me.

O hasten your speed, my steed, my steed,
My heart no longer can tarry;
To the wood, to the wood, to the far greenwood,
My joyous secret to carry!

O were I upward tro' ether drawn
Like the skylark soaring and soaring,
How would I sing to the rosy dawn,
My joy, my joy outpouring.

No wings are mine with the lark on high
To soar where no mortal is near me,
I cannot sing to the rosy sky.
The earth, the earth must hear me.

The hearken, oh forest, and share my bliss,
For past is my passionate yearning;
She is mine! She is mine! Her virgin kiss
Upon my lips is burning!

Diamonds for riches
By danger followed fast,
Emeralds for ardour
By jealous doubt o'ercast;

Ruby, fickle passion,
Pearl, too coldly white,
Amethyst for sorrow,
Opal - baneful light ;

But one of all the jewels
Speaks love for ever true,
And on my ring it sparkles,
The sapphire blue!

O sweet the rose in summer blowing,
And sweet the blackbird's chanted lay;
And oh! how fair the lily glowing
Beneath the golden eye of day.
And yet I know a joy excelling
The raptures of a poet's telling,
The lily's lamp, the radiant rose,
It is that surest, purest pleasure,
That in our heart of hearts we treasure,
The love that only Heaven knows.

When so much wealth we hold within us,
Our hearts from ev'ry care are free,
For calm contentment it must win us,
Though tossed like foam upon life's sea.
Aye, though all ills conspire to flout us,
Yet love's within, around, about us,
A tower of strength, an angel arm,
It is the torch that flames beside us
Through labyrinthine glooms to guide us,
'Tis May in winter, peace in storm.