Chamber Music James Joyce Part 4

 

 

Gentle lady, do not sing

Sad songs about the end of love;

Lay aside sadness and sing

How love that passes is enough.

Sing about the long deep sleep

Of lovers that are dead, and how

In the grave all love shall sleep:

Love is aweary now.

Dear heart, why will you use me so?

Dear eyes that gently me upbraid,

Still are you beautiful -- - but O,

How is your beauty raimented!

Through the clear mirror of your eyes,

Through the soft sigh of kiss to kiss,

Desolate winds assail with cries

The shadowy garden where love is.

And soon shall love dissolved be

When over us the wild winds blow -- -

But you, dear love, too dear to me,

Alas! why will you use me so?

Love came to us in time gone by

When one at twilight shyly played

And one in fear was standing nigh -- -

For Love at first is all afraid.

We were grave lovers. Love is past

That had his sweet hours many a one;

Welcome to us now at the last

The ways that we shall go upon.

O, it was out by Donnycarney

When the bat flew from tree to tree

My love and I did walk together;

And sweet were the words she said to me.

Along with us the summer wind

Went murmuring -- - O, happily! -- -

But softer than the breath of summer

Was the kiss she gave to me.

Rain has fallen all the day.

O come among the laden trees:

The leaves lie thick upon the way

Of memories.

Staying a little by the way

Of memories shall we depart.

Come, my beloved, where I may

Speak to your heart.

Now, O now, in this brown land

Where Love did so sweet music make

We two shall wander, hand in hand,

Forbearing for old friendship' sake,

Nor grieve because our love was gay

Which now is ended in this way.

A rogue in red and yellow dress

Is knocking, knocking at the tree;

And all around our loneliness

The wind is whistling merrily.

The leaves -- - they do not sigh at all

When the year takes them in the fall.

Now, O now, we hear no more

The vilanelle and roundelay!

Yet will we kiss, sweetheart, before

We take sad leave at close of day.

Grieve not, sweetheart, for anything -- -

The year, the year is gathering.

Sleep now, O sleep now,

O you unquiet heart!

A voice crying "Sleep now"

Is heard in my heart.

The voice of the winter

Is heard at the door.

O sleep, for the winter

Is crying "Sleep no more."

My kiss will give peace now

And quiet to your heart -- -

Sleep on in peace now,

O you unquiet heart!

All day I hear the noise of waters

Making moan,

Sad as the sea-bird is when, going

Forth alone,

He hears the winds cry to the water's

Monotone.

The grey winds, the cold winds are blowing

Where I go.

I hear the noise of many waters

Far below.

All day, all night, I hear them flowing

To and fro.

I hear an army charging upon the land,

And the thunder of horses plunging, foam about their knees:

Arrogant, in black armour, behind them stand,

Disdaining the reins, with fluttering whips, the charioteers.

They cry unto the night their battle-name:

I moan in sleep when I hear afar their whirling laughter.

They cleave the gloom of dreams, a blinding flame,

Clanging, clanging upon the heart as upon an anvil.

They come shaking in triumph their long, green hair:

They come out of the sea and run shouting by the shore.

My heart, have you no wisdom thus to despair?

My love, my love, my love, why have you left me alone?