William Lisle Bowles - Ostend - On hearing the Bells at Sea lyrics

How sweet the tuneful bells' responsive peal! As when at opening dawn the fragrant breeze Touches the trembling sense of pale disease, So piercing to my heart their force I feel. And hark! with lessening cadence now they fall, And now along the white and level tide They fling their melancholy music wide; Bidding me many a tender thought recall Of summer days, and those delightful years When by my native streams, in life's fair prime, The mournful magic of their mingling chime First waked my wondering childhood into tears! But seeming now, when all those days are o'er, The sounds of joy once heard and heard no more.