Page:Halleck.djvu/242

210 For had I power to summon,
 * With harp divine, with harp divine,

The angel or the woman,
 * The last were mine, the last were mine.

If earth-born beauty’s fingers
 * Awaked the lay, awaked the lay,

Whose echoed music lingers
 * Around my way, around my way,

Where smiles the hearth she blesses
 * With voice and eye, with voice and eye?

Where binds the night her tresses,
 * When sleep is nigh, when sleep is nigh!

Is Fashion’s bleak cold mountain
 * Her bosom’s throne, her bosom’s throne?

Or love’s green vale and fountain,
 * With one alone, with one alone?

Why ask! why seek a treasure
 * Like her I sing, like her I sing?

Her name nor pain nor pleasure
 * To me should bring, to me should bring.

Love must not grieve or gladden
 * My thoughts of snow, my thoughts of snow,

Nor woman soothe or sadden
 * My path below, my path below.

Before a worldlier altar
 * I’ve knelt too long, I’ve knelt too long;

And if my footsteps falter,
 * ’Tis but in song, ’tis but in song.