Serenade （For Music）
The western wind is blowing fair
Across the dark AEgean sea，
And at the secret marble stair
My Tyrian galley1 waits for thee.
Come down！ the purple sail is spread，
The watchman sleeps within the town，
O leave thy lily-flowered bed，
O Lady mine come down， come down！
She will not come， I know her well，
Of lover's vows2 she hath no care，
And little good a man can tell
Of one so cruel and so fair.
True love is but a woman's toy，
They never know the lover's pain，
And I who loved as loves a boy
Must love in vain， must love in vain.
O noble pilot， tell me true，
Is that the sheen of golden hair？
Or is it but the tangled3 dew
That binds4 the passion-flowers there？
Good sailor come and tell me now
Is that my Lady's lily hand？
Or is it but the gleaming prow5，
Or is it but the silver sand？
No！ no！ 'tis not the tangled dew，
'Tis not the silver-fretted sand，
It is my own dear Lady true
With golden hair and lily hand！
O noble pilot， steer6 for Troy，
Good sailor， ply7 the labouring oar8，
This is the Queen of life and joy
Whom we must bear from Grecian shore！
The waning9 sky grows faint and blue，
It wants an hour still of day，
Aboard！ aboard！ my gallant10 crew，
O Lady mine， away！ away！
O noble pilot， steer for Troy，
Good sailor， ply the labouring oar，
O loved as only loves a boy！
O loved for ever evermore！
