What woke the buried sound that lay 
  In Memnon's harp of yore ? 
What spirit on its viewless way 
  Along the Nile's green shore ?
  -- Oh ! not the night, and not the storm, 
  And not the lightning's fire ; 
But sunlight's touch -- the kind -- the warm --
  This woke the mystic lyre!
  This, this, awoke the lyre!

What wins the heart's deep chords to pour 
  Their music forth on life 
Like a sweet voice prevailing o'er 
  The sounds of torrent strife ?
  -- Oh! not the conflict midst the throng, 
  Not e'en the triumph's hour ; --
Love is the gifted and the strong, 
  To wake that music's power!
  His breath awakes that power!