but it has already tempted me into too much egotism; and perhaps, "next to singing, the most foolish thing THOMAS MOORE. Mayheld-Cottage, Ashbourn. MORE'S MELODIES. ON NATIONAL MUSIC. A MELOLOGUE. The Melologue subjoined was recited at the Kilkenny Theatre, in Ireland, at the close of the season, June 1810. The performers at the theatre were gentlemen of the neighbouring country, and the profits of the performance were given to the different charitable institutions in Kilkenny. The Melologue was written and recited by THOMAS MOORE, Esq. (Strain of Music.) THERE breathes the language known and felt, Where oft, of old, on some high tower, The soft Peruvian poured his midnight strains, And called his distant love with such sweet power, That when she heard the well known lay, To those bleak realms of polar night, And sings, along the darkling waste of snow, Of vernal Phœbus burn'd upon his brow. Is still resistless, still the same; To the pale star that o'er its realms presides, Of human passions rise and fall from thee. (Greek Air.) List! 'tis a Grecian maid that sings, She draws the cool lymph in her graceful urn, With hands by tyrant power unchained, A wreath by tyrant touch unstained; (Greek Air, interrupted by a trumpet.) Hark! tis the sound that charms Round her boy-soldier, when that sound she hears, And, tho' her fond heart sinks with fears, Is proud to feel his young pulse bound Oh Music! here, even here, Thy soul-felt charm asserts its wonderous power; Is heard, when shepherds homeward pipe their flocks; Oh! every note of it would thrill his mind With tenderest thoughts, and bring about his knees The rosy children whom he left behind, With speaking tears, that ask him, why He wandered from his hut to scenes like these? Vain, vain, is then the trumpet's brazen roar, Sweet notes of home, of love, are all he hears, And the stern eyes that looked for blood before, 、 Now, melting, mournful, lose themselves in tears! (Ranz des Vaches, interrupted by a trumpet.) |