I have slept upon my couch,
But my spirit did not rest,
For the labours of the
Yet my weary soul opprest;
And before my dreaming
Still the learned volumes lay,
And I could not close their leaves,
And I could not turn away.
But I oped my eyes at last,
And I heard a muffled sound;'Twas the night-breeze, come to
That the snow was on the ground.
Then I knew that there was
On the mountain's bosom free;
So I left my fevered couch,
And I flew to waken thee!
I have flown to waken thee—For, if thou wilt not arise,
Then my soul can drink no
From these holy moonlight skies.
And this waste of virgin
To my sight will not be fair,
Unless thou wilt smiling come,
Love, to wander with me there.
Then, awake!
Maria, wake!
For, if thou couldst only
How the quiet moonlight
On this wilderness of snow,
And the groves of ancient trees,
In their snowy garb arrayed,
Till they stretch into the
Of the distant valley's shade;
I know thou wouldst
To inhale this bracing air;
Thou wouldst break thy sweetest
To behold a scene so fair.
O'er these wintry wilds,
NE,
Thou wouldst joy to wander free;
And it will not please thee less,
Though that bliss be shared with me.
