Perdita (Hebblethwaite)

The sea-coast of Bohemia Is pleasant to the view When singing larks spring from the grass To fade into the blue, And all the hawthorn hedges break In wreaths of purest snow, And yellow daffodils are out, And roses half in blow. The sea-coast of Bohemia Is sad as sad can be, The prince has ta’en our flower of maids Across the violet sea; Our Perdita has gone with him, No more we dance the round Upon the green in joyous play, Or wake the tabor’s sound. The sea-coast of Bohemia Has many wonders seen, The shepherd lass wed with a king, The shepherd with a queen; But such a wonder as my love Was never seen before, It is my joy and sorrow now To love her evermore. The sea-coast of Bohemia Is haunted by a light Of memory fair of lady’s eyes, And fame of gallant knight; The princes seek its charmèd strand, But ah, it was our knell When o’er the sea our Perdita Went with young Florizel. The sea-coast of Bohemia Is not my resting-place, For with her waned from out the day A beauty and a grace: O had I kissed her on the lips I would no longer weep, But live by that until the day I fall to shade and sleep.