Mirthfully, wildly, they flash along -Let the heavens ring with song! "There is joy in the forests; the bird of night Hath made the leaves tremble with deep delight; But mine is the glory to sunshine given Sing, sing through the echoing heaven! "Mine are the wings of the soaring morn, Mine are the fresh gales with dayspring born: Only young rapture can mount so high -Sing, sing through the echoing sky!" So those two voices met; so Joy and Death SONGS OF SPAIN.* I. ANCIENT BATTLE SONG. FLING forth the proud banner of Leon again! And thou, free Asturias, encamp'd on the height, The voices are mighty that swell from the past, With Arragon's cry on the shrill mountain blast; The ancient sierras give strength to our tread, Their pines murmur song where bright blood hath been shed. -Fling forth the proud banner of Leon again, And shout ye "Castile! to the rescue for Spain!" * Written for a set of airs, entitled Peninsular Melodies, selected by Colonel Hodges, and published by Messrs Goulding and D'Almaine, who have permitted the reappearance of the words in this volume. II. THE ZEGRI MAID. [The Zegris were one of the most illustrious Moorish tribes. Their exploits and feuds with their celebrated rivals, the Abencerrages, form the subject of many ancient Spanish romances.] THE summer leaves were sighing To her low sad song replying As it fill'd the olive shade. Her land's, her kindred's foe! "From thy glance, my gentle mother! And the dark eye of my brother Is an arrow to my breast." -Where summer leaves were sighing While the crimson day was dying “ And for all this heart's wealth wasted, Should I win back aught but scorn? By aught but daily dying Would my lone truth be repaid?” III. THE RIO VERDE SONG. [The Rio Verde, a small river of Spain, is celebrated in the old ballad romances of that country for the frequent combats on its banks between Moor and Christian. The ballad referring to this stream in Percy's Reliques, "Gentle river, gentle river, Lo! thy streams are stain'd with gore." will be remembered by many readers.] FLOW, Rio Verde! In melody flow; To slumber from woe; Bid thy wave's music Roll through her dreams, The kind voice of streams. Bear her lone spirit Afar on the sound Her life's fairy ground; Pass like the whisper Of love that is gone Flow, Rio Verde ! Softly flow on! Dark glassy water So crimson'd of yore! Know thy green shore. Thou should'st have echoes For grief's deepest tone- Softly flow on! IV.-SEEK BY THE SILVERY DARRO. SEEK by the silvery Darro, Where jasmine flowers have blown; There hath she left no footsteps? Seek where our lady's image Seek in the porch where vine-leaves V.-SPANISH EVENING HYMN. AVE! now let prayer and music Meet in love on earth and sea! Now, sweet Mother! may the weary Turn from this cold world to thee! From the wide and restless waters |