| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895. |
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| Songs from “Sylvia; Or, the May Queen.” IV. Romanzo to Sylvia |
| | | George Darley (1795–1846) |
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| I ’VE taught thee Love’s sweet lesson o’er, | |
| A task that is not learn’d with tears: | |
| Was Sylvia e’er so blest before | |
| In her wild, solitary years? | |
| Then what does he deserve, the Youth, | 5 |
| Who made her con so dear a truth! | |
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| Till now in silent vales to roam, | |
| Singing vain songs to heedless flowers, | |
| Or watch the dashing billows foam, | |
| Amid thy lonely myrtle bowers, | 10 |
| To weave light crowns of various hue,— | |
| Were all the joys thy bosom knew. | |
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| The wild bird, though most musical, | |
| Could not to thy sweet plaint reply; | |
| The streamlet and the waterfall | 15 |
| Could only weep when thou didst sigh! | |
| Thou couldst not change one dulcet word | |
| Either with billow, or with bird. | |
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| For leaves and flowers, but these alone, | |
| Winds have a soft discoursing way; | 20 |
| Heav’n’s starry talk is all its own,— | |
| It dies in thunder far away. | |
| E’en when thou wouldst the Moon beguile | |
| To speak,—she only deigns to smile! | |
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| Now, birds and winds, be churlish still, | 25 |
| Ye waters keep your sullen roar, | |
| Stars be as distant as ye will,— | |
| Sylvia need court ye now no more: | |
| In Love there is society | |
| She never yet could find with ye! | 30 |
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