LYRICS. SONGS OF A GUARDIAN SPIRIT. I.—NEAR THEE, STILL NEAR THEE!1 NEAR thee, still near thee!-o'er thy pathway gliding, Not 'midst the festal throng, In halls of mirth and song; But when thy thoughts are deepest, Know then that love is nigh! When the night's whisper o'er thy harp-strings creeping, Or the sea-music on the sounding shore, Or breezy anthems through the forest sweeping, 1 This piece has been set to music of most impressive beauty by John Lodge, Esq., for whose compositions several of the author's songs were written. When every thought and prayer Then feel me near once more! Near thee, still near thee!-trust thy soul's deep dreaming! -Oh! love is not an earthly rose to die! Even when I soar where fiery stars are beaming, Thine image wanders with me through the sky. The fields of air are free; Yet lonely, wanting thee; But when thy chains are falling, Know then, thy guide is nigh! II.-OH! DROOP THOU NOT. "They sin who tell us love can die, All others are but vanity. In heaven ambition cannot dwell, Nor avarice in the vaults of hell. Earthly these passions, as of earth They perish where they drew their birth. Its holy flame for ever burneth; From heaven it came, to heaven returneth." SOUTHEY, OH! droop thou not, my gentle earthly love! Mine still to be! I bore through death, to brighter lands above, Yes! the deep memory of our holy tears, Our suffering love, through long devoted years, It was not vain, the hallow'd and the tried- Still, though unseen, still hovering at thy side, From our own paths, our love's attesting bowers, I am not gone; In the deep calm of Midnight's whispering hours, Thou art not lone: Not lone, when by the haunted stream thou weepest, That stream whose tone Murmurs of thoughts, the richest and the deepest, We two have known: Not lone, when mournfully some strain awaking From thy soft eyes the sudden tears are breaking, Not lone, when upwards, in fond visions turning Thou seek'st my home, where solemn stars are burning, O'er night's expanse. My home is near thee, loved one! and around thee, Where'er thou art; Though still mortality's thick cloud hath bound thee, Hear its low voice, nor deem thyself forsaken- To the still tones which oft our being waken- MIGNON'S SONG. TRANSLATED FROM GOETHE. Mignon, a young and enthusiastic girl, (the character in one of Goethe's romances, from which Sir Walter Scott's Fenella is partially imitated,) has been stolen away, in early childhood, from Italy. Her vague recollections of that land, and of her early home, with its graceful sculptures and pictured saloons, are perpetually haunting her, and at times break forth into the following song. The original has been set to exquisite music, by Zelter, the friend of Goethe." "Kennst du das Land wo die Citronen blühn." KNOW'ST thou the land where bloom the citron bowers, Where the gold-orange lights the dusky grove? High waves the laurel there, the myrtle flowers, And through a still blue heaven the sweet winds rove. Know'st thou it well? -There, there, with thee, O friend! O loved one! fain my steps would flee. Know'st thou the dwelling?-there the pillars rise, Soft shines the hall, the painted chambers glow; And forms of marble seem with pitying eyes To say "Poor child! what thus hath wrought thee woe?" Know'st thou it well? There, there with thee, O my protector! homewards might I flee! Know'st thou the mountain?-high its bridge is hung, Where the mule seeks through mist and cloud his way; There lurk the dragon-race, deep caves among, O'er beetling rocks there foams the torrent spray. Know'st thou it well? With thee, with thee, There lies my path, O father! let us flee! THE SISTERS.' A BALLAD. "I Go, sweet sister; yet my heart would linger with thee fain, And unto every parting gift some deep remembrance chain : This ballad was composed for a kind of dramatic recitative, relieved by music. It was thus performed by two graceful and highly accomplished sisters. |