Page:Things Japanese (1905).djvu/484

472 Chorus. From those bright spheres,

Lent for a moment, this sweet maid appears:

Here in Japan she lights (heav'n left behind),

To teach the art of dancing to mankind.

Chorus. Wher'er we gaze, the circling mists are twining:

Perchance e'en now the moon her tendrils fair

Celestial blossoms bear.

Those flow'rets tell us that the spring is shining,—

Those fresh-blown flow'rets in the maiden's hair.

Fairy. Blest hour beyond compare!

Fisherman. Heaven hath its joys, but there is beauty here.

Blow, blow, ye winds! that the white cloud-belts driv'n

Around my path may bar my homeward way.

Not yet would I return to heav'n,

But here on Mio's pine-clad shore I'd stray,

Or where the moon in bright unclouded glory

Shines on Kiyomi's lea,

And where on Fujiyama's summit hoary

The snows look on the sea,

While breaks the morning merrily!

But of these three, beyond compare,

The wave-wash'd shore of Mio is most fair

When through the pines the breath of spring is playing.

What barrier rises 'twixt the heav'n and earth?

Here, too, on earth th' immortal gods came straying,

And gave our monarchs birth,

Fairy. Who, in this Empire of the Rising Sun,

While myriad ages run,

Shall ever rule their bright dominions,