She sung of love while o'er her lyre
Those rosy rays of evening fell
As if to feed with their soft fire
The soul within that trembling shell
The same rich light hung o'er her cheek
And play'd around those lips that sung
And spoke as flowers would sing and speak
If love could lend their leaves a tongue
Whoever loved but had the thought
That he and all he loved must part?
Fill'd with his fear I flew and caught
That fading image to my heart
And cried "oh, love" is this thy doom?
Light of youth's resplendent day
Must ye then lose your golden gloom
And thus like sunshine die away?
As if her light and heav'ns were one
The glory all had left that frame
And from her glimm'ring lips the tone
As from a parting spirit came
But soon the west no longer burn'd
Each rosy ray from heav'n withdrew
And when to gaze again I turn'd
The minstrel's form seem'd fading, too