A SEA CYCLE

In at your cabin window,Under the drifting sky,Softly, and all on tiptoeWinds that are passing bySteal with a tender longing,Pause, with a yearning sigh,Kiss you—and then in raptureFolding their pinions die.

In at your cabin window,

Under the drifting sky,

Softly, and all on tiptoe

Winds that are passing by

Steal with a tender longing,

Pause, with a yearning sigh,

Kiss you—and then in rapture

Folding their pinions die.

There is something divinely happy,And something divinely fair,At work in the world this morning,Its spirit is everywhere.I'm filled with a sense of youngness,My limbs are alive and strong,My heart with a throb of gladnessRe-echoes the Ocean's song.The sun is a splendid halo,That sets on the brow of earth,The wind is the flute of silverHe tunes to his strains of mirth.The waves are abrim with laughter,The ship is a soul set free;And out through this perfect weatherYou'll presently come to me.

There is something divinely happy,And something divinely fair,At work in the world this morning,Its spirit is everywhere.

There is something divinely happy,

And something divinely fair,

At work in the world this morning,

Its spirit is everywhere.

I'm filled with a sense of youngness,My limbs are alive and strong,My heart with a throb of gladnessRe-echoes the Ocean's song.

I'm filled with a sense of youngness,

My limbs are alive and strong,

My heart with a throb of gladness

Re-echoes the Ocean's song.

The sun is a splendid halo,That sets on the brow of earth,The wind is the flute of silverHe tunes to his strains of mirth.

The sun is a splendid halo,

That sets on the brow of earth,

The wind is the flute of silver

He tunes to his strains of mirth.

The waves are abrim with laughter,The ship is a soul set free;And out through this perfect weatherYou'll presently come to me.

The waves are abrim with laughter,

The ship is a soul set free;

And out through this perfect weather

You'll presently come to me.

I pledged you in a cup of wine,And every passion that was mineI melted in that nectar rare,To drink to you, I swear—I swear!I pledged you in the cup of life,Its inmost essence, hot and rife,I caught from drops my heart bled there,To drink to you, I swear—I swear!

I pledged you in a cup of wine,And every passion that was mineI melted in that nectar rare,To drink to you, I swear—I swear!

I pledged you in a cup of wine,

And every passion that was mine

I melted in that nectar rare,

To drink to you, I swear—I swear!

I pledged you in the cup of life,Its inmost essence, hot and rife,I caught from drops my heart bled there,To drink to you, I swear—I swear!

I pledged you in the cup of life,

Its inmost essence, hot and rife,

I caught from drops my heart bled there,

To drink to you, I swear—I swear!

Listen, dear heart, awhile, till I repeatIn all my life, there never was so sweetAn hour as this; so perfectly complete,So full of joy, so deep and so repleteWith ardent things. Alas! that time is fleet.

Listen, dear heart, awhile, till I repeat

In all my life, there never was so sweet

An hour as this; so perfectly complete,

So full of joy, so deep and so replete

With ardent things. Alas! that time is fleet.

Good-night! until to-morrow, dear;You go to rest, and I still hereWill dream of all you do and say;Will contemplate, as lovers may,Each thing you've touched, with eyes that findYour form in all you leave behind.Your presence, and the joy that fillsThe heart and soul with countless thrillsIs still beside me, and the shipThrobs out with every rise and dipThe words that uttered once shall beMy music through eternity.

Good-night! until to-morrow, dear;

You go to rest, and I still here

Will dream of all you do and say;

Will contemplate, as lovers may,

Each thing you've touched, with eyes that find

Your form in all you leave behind.

Your presence, and the joy that fillsThe heart and soul with countless thrillsIs still beside me, and the shipThrobs out with every rise and dipThe words that uttered once shall beMy music through eternity.

Your presence, and the joy that fills

The heart and soul with countless thrills

Is still beside me, and the ship

Throbs out with every rise and dip

The words that uttered once shall be

My music through eternity.

Let me forget the land,The turmoil and the strifeOf cities; let me standAlone with you and life.Encircled by the sky,Uplifted by the sea,The world is you, and I,Then give yourself to me!

Let me forget the land,The turmoil and the strifeOf cities; let me standAlone with you and life.

Let me forget the land,

The turmoil and the strife

Of cities; let me stand

Alone with you and life.

Encircled by the sky,Uplifted by the sea,The world is you, and I,Then give yourself to me!

Encircled by the sky,

Uplifted by the sea,

The world is you, and I,

Then give yourself to me!

Don't speak! a word would mar it all,Just put your hand in mine.This silence seems of Heaven, to fallFrom thence, a thing Divine.Be still! to move would seem profane,So magic is the night,All hushed, yet throbbing with a veinOf passionate delight.Look up! and let your gaze enfoldMy face that bends above,And in my ardent eyes beholdThe ecstasy of love.

Don't speak! a word would mar it all,Just put your hand in mine.This silence seems of Heaven, to fallFrom thence, a thing Divine.

Don't speak! a word would mar it all,

Just put your hand in mine.

This silence seems of Heaven, to fall

From thence, a thing Divine.

Be still! to move would seem profane,So magic is the night,All hushed, yet throbbing with a veinOf passionate delight.

Be still! to move would seem profane,

So magic is the night,

All hushed, yet throbbing with a vein

Of passionate delight.

Look up! and let your gaze enfoldMy face that bends above,And in my ardent eyes beholdThe ecstasy of love.

Look up! and let your gaze enfold

My face that bends above,

And in my ardent eyes behold

The ecstasy of love.

I take my heart with trembling hands,Unworthy vassal though it be,Sad wanderer in many lands,Such as it is I offer thee,And will not even dare complainShouldst thou this sorry gift disdain.Yet oh! be sure that every sigh,Each beat of anguish deep and sore,Has grown a dagger thrust, which IMust bear for all that's gone before;And bearing it will learn to knowThe cleansing agony of woe.And this remember, ere you turnYour head away in silent pride,The soul is young that still can learnNew truths that Love has simplified;And being young may still attainPerfection, through repentant pain.Then stoop to pity; do not closeThe gate of Paradise and rest,To one whose spirit seeks reposeWithin that haven of the blest;But rather fling the portal wideAnd draw the pilgrim safe inside.

I take my heart with trembling hands,Unworthy vassal though it be,Sad wanderer in many lands,Such as it is I offer thee,And will not even dare complainShouldst thou this sorry gift disdain.

I take my heart with trembling hands,

Unworthy vassal though it be,

Sad wanderer in many lands,

Such as it is I offer thee,

And will not even dare complain

Shouldst thou this sorry gift disdain.

Yet oh! be sure that every sigh,Each beat of anguish deep and sore,Has grown a dagger thrust, which IMust bear for all that's gone before;And bearing it will learn to knowThe cleansing agony of woe.

Yet oh! be sure that every sigh,

Each beat of anguish deep and sore,

Has grown a dagger thrust, which I

Must bear for all that's gone before;

And bearing it will learn to know

The cleansing agony of woe.

And this remember, ere you turnYour head away in silent pride,The soul is young that still can learnNew truths that Love has simplified;And being young may still attainPerfection, through repentant pain.

And this remember, ere you turn

Your head away in silent pride,

The soul is young that still can learn

New truths that Love has simplified;

And being young may still attain

Perfection, through repentant pain.

Then stoop to pity; do not closeThe gate of Paradise and rest,To one whose spirit seeks reposeWithin that haven of the blest;But rather fling the portal wideAnd draw the pilgrim safe inside.

Then stoop to pity; do not close

The gate of Paradise and rest,

To one whose spirit seeks repose

Within that haven of the blest;

But rather fling the portal wide

And draw the pilgrim safe inside.

The past is like an empty dream;The people in it are not real;The joys and sorrows only seemAs phantom hands I cannot feel.I will not even count the hours,That lie between those yesterdaysAnd what my present life embowers,Of love and all its golden ways.All that I am, my soul, my mind,And all I ever hope to beI fling, with scarce a look behindInto this present ecstasy.I have not even one regretTo waste upon those lagging years,Too colourless to feign forget,Too soulless for repentant tears.No sigh, though life should end for meTo-day; so potent is the blissOf love, I think eternityIs held embodied in a kiss.

The past is like an empty dream;The people in it are not real;The joys and sorrows only seemAs phantom hands I cannot feel.

The past is like an empty dream;

The people in it are not real;

The joys and sorrows only seem

As phantom hands I cannot feel.

I will not even count the hours,That lie between those yesterdaysAnd what my present life embowers,Of love and all its golden ways.

I will not even count the hours,

That lie between those yesterdays

And what my present life embowers,

Of love and all its golden ways.

All that I am, my soul, my mind,And all I ever hope to beI fling, with scarce a look behindInto this present ecstasy.

All that I am, my soul, my mind,

And all I ever hope to be

I fling, with scarce a look behind

Into this present ecstasy.

I have not even one regretTo waste upon those lagging years,Too colourless to feign forget,Too soulless for repentant tears.

I have not even one regret

To waste upon those lagging years,

Too colourless to feign forget,

Too soulless for repentant tears.

No sigh, though life should end for meTo-day; so potent is the blissOf love, I think eternityIs held embodied in a kiss.

No sigh, though life should end for me

To-day; so potent is the bliss

Of love, I think eternity

Is held embodied in a kiss.

If every rose that ever blew,All fragrant with the breath of Spring,Were here, aglow with sun and dew,With ardent petals shimmering—What would their beauty count to me,Have I not lived to look on thee?If every note of music born,Each wistful cadence low and sweet,Were all combined from night till dawnTo render melody complete—Why should my throbbing sense rejoiceThat once has listened to thy voice?Nor do I think that ParadiseCould dim with raptured awe my gaze,Unfolding to my dazzled eyes—The marvel of untrodden ways;For know I not of Heaven a partSince I have found thy living heart?

If every rose that ever blew,

All fragrant with the breath of Spring,

Were here, aglow with sun and dew,

With ardent petals shimmering—

What would their beauty count to me,

Have I not lived to look on thee?

If every note of music born,Each wistful cadence low and sweet,Were all combined from night till dawnTo render melody complete—Why should my throbbing sense rejoiceThat once has listened to thy voice?

If every note of music born,

Each wistful cadence low and sweet,

Were all combined from night till dawn

To render melody complete—

Why should my throbbing sense rejoice

That once has listened to thy voice?

Nor do I think that ParadiseCould dim with raptured awe my gaze,Unfolding to my dazzled eyes—The marvel of untrodden ways;For know I not of Heaven a partSince I have found thy living heart?

Nor do I think that Paradise

Could dim with raptured awe my gaze,

Unfolding to my dazzled eyes—

The marvel of untrodden ways;

For know I not of Heaven a part

Since I have found thy living heart?

Oh, my beloved! though I liveA thousand years upon the earth,And though each pleasure take its birthFrom me; though it be mine to give allRapture, every thrill and joyKnown unto gods; though I destroyAll ills, and overcome e'en deathWithin the vapour of a breath,That from thy lips passed into mine,Fire-tipped, of earth, yet all divineWould be contained more ecstasy,To chain the soul eternallyWith fetters woven of thy kiss—Than in Mahomet's realms of bliss—Nay more—of Heaven I ask but this.

Oh, my beloved! though I live

A thousand years upon the earth,

And though each pleasure take its birth

From me; though it be mine to give all

Rapture, every thrill and joy

Known unto gods; though I destroy

All ills, and overcome e'en death

Within the vapour of a breath,

That from thy lips passed into mine,

Fire-tipped, of earth, yet all divine

Would be contained more ecstasy,

To chain the soul eternally

With fetters woven of thy kiss—

Than in Mahomet's realms of bliss—

Nay more—of Heaven I ask but this.

Over the silent watersFlashes the beacon light,Sharp as a strong, white daggerCleaving the breast of Night.Beacon of hope and safety!See, we are near the land,Come and stand close beside me,Give me your dear, white hand.Here in the wind and darkness,Under the sighing mast,Let us forget the futureLet us condone the past.God in His high, blue Heaven,Counting the falling tears,Grants us this fleeting present,Out of the endless years.

Over the silent watersFlashes the beacon light,Sharp as a strong, white daggerCleaving the breast of Night.

Over the silent waters

Flashes the beacon light,

Sharp as a strong, white dagger

Cleaving the breast of Night.

Beacon of hope and safety!See, we are near the land,Come and stand close beside me,Give me your dear, white hand.

Beacon of hope and safety!

See, we are near the land,

Come and stand close beside me,

Give me your dear, white hand.

Here in the wind and darkness,Under the sighing mast,Let us forget the futureLet us condone the past.

Here in the wind and darkness,

Under the sighing mast,

Let us forget the future

Let us condone the past.

God in His high, blue Heaven,Counting the falling tears,Grants us this fleeting present,Out of the endless years.

God in His high, blue Heaven,

Counting the falling tears,

Grants us this fleeting present,

Out of the endless years.

The land! The land! it is the endOf all my dreams; the sudden bendAlong the road, and face to faceI stand with some deserted place,Where Death, and Darkness grow apace.The land! The land! with beating heartI am awake, alone, apart;To gaze upon the nearing shore,And know that all that's gone beforeMeans nothing to you any more.The land! The land! Oh, blessed sea!Lift up your arms and cover me;One long caress upon your breast!You know me, I have stood confessedBefore you, now I fain would rest.

The land! The land! it is the endOf all my dreams; the sudden bendAlong the road, and face to faceI stand with some deserted place,Where Death, and Darkness grow apace.

The land! The land! it is the end

Of all my dreams; the sudden bend

Along the road, and face to face

I stand with some deserted place,

Where Death, and Darkness grow apace.

The land! The land! with beating heartI am awake, alone, apart;To gaze upon the nearing shore,And know that all that's gone beforeMeans nothing to you any more.

The land! The land! with beating heart

I am awake, alone, apart;

To gaze upon the nearing shore,

And know that all that's gone before

Means nothing to you any more.

The land! The land! Oh, blessed sea!Lift up your arms and cover me;One long caress upon your breast!You know me, I have stood confessedBefore you, now I fain would rest.

The land! The land! Oh, blessed sea!

Lift up your arms and cover me;

One long caress upon your breast!

You know me, I have stood confessed

Before you, now I fain would rest.

Oh, Time! There's much I could forgive;E'en though you told me that to liveAnother hour it was denied,I think I'd lay my life asideWith few regrets, and scarce a sigh,It would not be so hard to die.But like a thief steals in the night,You robbed me; what was mine by rightYour ruthless hands have snatched away;The passions that were yesterdayYou've cankered with your deadly rust,And turned a living heart to dust.

Oh, Time! There's much I could forgive;E'en though you told me that to liveAnother hour it was denied,I think I'd lay my life asideWith few regrets, and scarce a sigh,It would not be so hard to die.

Oh, Time! There's much I could forgive;

E'en though you told me that to live

Another hour it was denied,

I think I'd lay my life aside

With few regrets, and scarce a sigh,

It would not be so hard to die.

But like a thief steals in the night,You robbed me; what was mine by rightYour ruthless hands have snatched away;The passions that were yesterdayYou've cankered with your deadly rust,And turned a living heart to dust.

But like a thief steals in the night,

You robbed me; what was mine by right

Your ruthless hands have snatched away;

The passions that were yesterday

You've cankered with your deadly rust,

And turned a living heart to dust.

Ah! if but once again to hearThe song of waves against the keel!The sound of winds upon the sea,To watch the moonlight, and to feelYour hand in mine; to have you stealMore close, more close, till senses reel,And all the deep, unfathomed blissOf Life and Death were in your kiss.

Ah! if but once again to hear

The song of waves against the keel!

The sound of winds upon the sea,

To watch the moonlight, and to feel

Your hand in mine; to have you steal

More close, more close, till senses reel,

And all the deep, unfathomed bliss

Of Life and Death were in your kiss.

I have striven for three whole years to forget;I have prayed, ay, grovelled to God; and yetAt the glimpse of a pictured face, of a formThat suggested yours—like a blighting stormThe Past rose up, and in anguish cried,"Oh, fool! I live, it was You who died."

I have striven for three whole years to forget;

I have prayed, ay, grovelled to God; and yet

At the glimpse of a pictured face, of a form

That suggested yours—like a blighting storm

The Past rose up, and in anguish cried,

"Oh, fool! I live, it was You who died."

The Riverside Press Limited, Edinburgh

Transcriber's NotesMinor punctuation and printer errors repaired.

Minor punctuation and printer errors repaired.

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