dear harp of my country!

dear harp of my country! in darkness i found thee

the cold chain of silence had hung o'er thee long;

when proudly

my own island harp! i unbound thee

and gave all thy chords to light

freedom

and song!

the warm lay of love and the light tone of gladness

have waken'd thy fondest

thy liveliest thrill;

but so oft has thou echo'd the deep sigh of sadness

that e'en in thy mirth it will steal from thee still. dear harp of my country! farewell to thy numbers. this sweet wreath of song is the last we shall twine;

go

sleep with the sunshine of fame on thy slumbers

till touch'd by some hand less unworthy than mine. if the pulse of the patriot

soldier

or lover

have throbb'd at our lay

'tis thy glory alone;

i was but as the wind

passing heedlessly over

and all the wild sweetness i waked was thy own!