She sought to breathe one word,
but vainly;
Too many listeners were nigh;
And yet my timid glance read plainly
The language of her speaking
eye.
Thy silent glades my footstep presses,
Thou fair and leaf-embosomed
grove!
Conceal within thy green recesses
From mortal eye our sacred
love!
Afar with strange discordant noises,
The busy day is echoing;
And mid the hollow hum of
voices,
I hear the heavy hammer ring.
Tis thus that man, with toil
neer ending
Extorts from heaven his daily
bread;
Yet oft unseen the Gods are sending
The gifts of fortune on his
head!
Oh, let mankind discover never
How true love fills with bliss
our hearts
They would but crush our joy forever,
For joy to them no glow imparts.
Thou neer wilt from the world
obtain it-
Tis never captured
save as prey;
Thou needs must strain each nerve
to gain it,
Eer envy dark asserts
her sway.
The hours of night and stillness
loving,
It comes upon us silently-
Away with hasty footstep moving
Soon as it sees a treacherous
eye.
Thou gentle stream, soft circlets
weaving,
A watery barrier cast around,
And, with thy waves in anger heaving,
Guard from each foe this holy
ground!
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