Serenade （For Music）

Serenade （For Music）

　　The western wind is blowing fair

　　Across the dark AEgean sea，

　　And at the secret marble stair

　　My Tyrian galley¹ waits for thee.

　　Come down！ the purple sail is spread，

　　The watchman sleeps within the town，

　　O leave thy lily-flowered bed，

　　O Lady mine come down， come down！

　　She will not come， I know her well，

　　Of lover's vows² she hath no care，

　　And little good a man can tell

　　Of one so cruel and so fair.

　　True love is but a woman's toy，

　　They never know the lover's pain，

　　And I who loved as loves a boy

　　Must love in vain， must love in vain.

　　O noble pilot， tell me true，

　　Is that the sheen of golden hair？

　　Or is it but the tangled³ dew

　　That binds⁴ the passion-flowers there？

　　Good sailor come and tell me now

　　Is that my Lady's lily hand？

　　Or is it but the gleaming prow⁵，

　　Or is it but the silver sand？

　　No！ no！ 'tis not the tangled dew，

　　'Tis not the silver-fretted sand，

　　It is my own dear Lady true

　　With golden hair and lily hand！

　　O noble pilot， steer⁶ for Troy，

　　Good sailor， ply⁷ the labouring oar⁸，

　　This is the Queen of life and joy

　　Whom we must bear from Grecian shore！

　　The waning⁹ sky grows faint and blue，

　　It wants an hour still of day，

　　Aboard！ aboard！ my gallant¹⁰ crew，

　　O Lady mine， away！ away！

　　O noble pilot， steer for Troy，

　　Good sailor， ply the labouring oar，

　　O loved as only loves a boy！

　　O loved for ever evermore！