The Shepherd’s Night-Song

Lyrics

Now arched dark boughs hang dim and still; The deep dew glistens up the hill; Silence trembles. All is still Now the sweet siren of the woods Philomel, passionately broods Or, darkling, hymns love's wildest moods Danaë, fainting in her tower Feels a sudden sun swim lower Gasps beneath the starry shower Venus in the pomegranate grove Flutters like a fluttering dove Under young Adonis' love Leda longs until alight In the reeds those wings of white She hears beat the upper night Golden now the glowing moon Diana over Endymion Downward bends as in a swoon Wherefore, since the gods agree Youth is sweet and Night is free And Love pleasure, should not we? Shepherds all, maidens fair Fold your flocks up, for the air 'Gins to thicken, and the sun Already his great course hath run Sweetest slumbers And soft silence, fall in numbers On your eyelids! So farewell: Thus'll end my evening's knell