Robin Adair

If she but knew that it would save me

Her voice to hear,

Saying she pitied me, forgave me,
Must she forbear?

If she were told that I was dying,
Would she be dumb?

Could she content herself with sighing?

Would she not come?

959

Arthur O'Shaughnessy [1844–1881]

KATHLEEN MAVOURNEEN

KATHLEEN MAVOURNEEN! the gray dawn is breaking,
The horn of the hunter is heard on the hill;

The lark from her light wing the bright dew is shaking,-
Kathleen Mavourneen! what, slumbering still?
Oh, hast thou forgotten how soon we must sever?
Oh! hast thou forgotten this day we must part?

It may be for years, and it may be forever!

Oh, why art thou silent, thou voice of my heart? Oh! why art thou silent, Kathleen Mavourneen?

Kathleen Mavourneen, awake from thy slumbers!

The blue mountains glow in the sun's golden light; Ah, where is the spell that once hung on my numbers? Arise in thy beauty, thou star of my night! Mavourneen, Mavourneen, my sad tears are falling, To think that from Erin and thee I must part!

It may be for years, and it may be forever!

Then why art thou silent, thou voice of my heart? Then why art thou silent, Kathleen Mavourneen? Louisa Macartney Crawford [18

ROBIN ADAIR

WHAT'S this dull town to me?

Robin's not near,-
He whom I wished to see,

Wished for to hear;

Where's all the joy and mirth
Made life a heaven on earth?
O, they're all fled with thee,
Robin Adair!

What made the assembly shine?

Robin Adair:

What made the ball so fine?

Robin was there:

What, when the play was o'er,
What made my heart so sore?
O, it was parting with
Robin Adair!

But now thou art far from me,

Robin Adair;

But now I never see

Robin Adair;

Yet him I loved so well

Still in my heart shall dwell;

O, I can ne'er forget

Robin Adair!

Welcome on shore again,

Robin Adair!

Welcome once more again,

Robin Adair!

I feel thy trembling hand;
Tears in thy eyelids stand,
To greet thy native land,

Robin Adair!

Long I ne'er saw thee, love,

Robin Adair;

Still I prayed for thee, love,

Robin Adair;

When thou wert far at sea,

Many made love to me,
But still I thought on thee,

Robin Adair!

A SONG IN WINTER

O LOVE, if you were here
This dreary, weary day,—

If your lips, warm and dear,

Found some sweet word to say,

Then hardly would seem drear

These skies of wintry gray.

But you are far away,

How far from me, my dear!
What cheer can warm the day?
My heart is chill with fear,
Pierced through with swift dismay;
A thought has turned Life sere:

If you,

from far away, Should come not back, my dear;

If I no more might lay

My hand on yours, nor hear

That voice, now sad, now gay,
Caress my listening ear;

If you, from far away,

Should come no more, my dear,—

Then with what dire dismay

Year joined to hostile year

Would frown, if I should stay

Where memories mock and jeer!

But I would come away

To dwell with you, my dear;
Through unknown worlds to stray,-
Or sleep; nor hope, nor fear,
Nor dream beneath the clay
Of all our days that were.

Philip Bourke Marston [1850-1887]

"COME TO ME, DEAREST"

COME to me, dearest, I'm lonely without thee;
Daytime and night-time, I'm thinking about thee;
Night-time and daytime, in dreams I behold thee;
Unwelcome the waking which ceases to fold thee.
Come to me, darling, my sorrows to lighten,
Come in thy beauty to bless and to brighten;
Come in thy womanhood, meekly and lowly,
Come in thy lovingness, queenly and holy.

Swallows will flit round the desolate ruin,
Telling of spring and its joyous renewing;

And thoughts of thy love and its manifold treasure,
Are circling my heart with a promise of pleasure.
O Spring of my spirit, O May of my bosom,
Shine out on my soul, till it bourgeon and blossom;
The waste of my life has a rose-root within it,
And thy fondness alone to the sunshine can win it.

Figure that moves like a song through the even;
Features lit up by a reflex of heaven;

Eyes like the skies of poor Erin, our mother,
Where shadow and sunshine are chasing each other;
Smiles coming seldom, but childlike and simple,
Planting in each rosy cheek a sweet dimple;-
O, thanks to the Saviour, that even thy seeming
Is left to the exile to brighten his dreaming.

You have been glad when you knew I was gladdened; Dear, are you sad now to hear I am saddened?

Song

Our hearts ever answer in tune and in time, love,
As octave to octave, and rhyme unto rhyme, love:
I cannot weep but your tears will be flowing,
You cannot smile but my cheek will be glowing;
I would not die without you at my side, love,
You will not linger when I shall have died, love.

Come to me, dear, ere I die of my sorrow,
Rise on my gloom like the sun of to-morrow;

963

Strong, swift, and fond are the words which I speak, love,
With a song on your lip and a smile on your cheek, love.
Come, for my heart in your absence is weary,—
Haste, for my spirit is sickened and dreary,-
Come to my arms which alone should caress thee,
Come to the heart which is throbbing to press thee!
Joseph Brenan [1829-1857]

SONG

'Tis said that absence conquers love!

But, oh! believe it not;

I've tried, alas! its power to prove,

But thou art not forgot.

Lady, though fate has bid us part,
Yet still thou art as dear,

As fixed in this devoted heart,
As when I clasped thee here.

I plunge into the busy crowd,
And smile to hear thy name;
And yet, as if I thought aloud,
They know me still the same;
And when the wine-cup passes round,
I toast some other fair,—

But when I ask my heart the sound,

Thy name is echoed there.

And when some other name I learn,

And try to whisper love,

Still will my heart to thee return

Like the returning dove.