THE LARK IN LOVE
The lark that 's climbing stair on stair
His ladder of light that swings in air
Hath a new note for every rung:
The lark 's in love and young.
His ladder of light that swings in air
Hath a new note for every rung:
The lark 's in love and young.
But soon the clouds allure no more,
No more the silver-damasked floor;
In spirals was his outward track,
But headlong comes he back.
No more the silver-damasked floor;
In spirals was his outward track,
But headlong comes he back.
He falls, shot through the burning heart,
Yea, through the heart by Love's own dart
Too well the cunning archer knew
The arrow he sent was true.
Yea, through the heart by Love's own dart
Too well the cunning archer knew
The arrow he sent was true.
But, lark, what wisdom dost thou prove
Whose wings, still tethered by thy love,
Carry thy song to Paradise:
Yet sweeter are her eyes.
Whose wings, still tethered by thy love,
Carry thy song to Paradise:
Yet sweeter are her eyes.
That was her praise, thy song that poured,
And his of wedded lovers, the lord.
Io Hymen! Thou happy boy,
Drunken with love and joy.
And his of wedded lovers, the lord.
Io Hymen! Thou happy boy,
Drunken with love and joy.
Io Hymen! O, speckled breast,
Minstrel of thine own wedding-feast,
Lover and bridegroom, singing still
How Love shall have his will!
Minstrel of thine own wedding-feast,
Lover and bridegroom, singing still
How Love shall have his will!