Each, sound of woe has dyed away upon the summer air
The sob of sharp impassioned grief the sigh of calm despair
And now on the decaying brieze no human accent swells
But oft at intervals sweeps by the hallowed sound of bells
As ever in the village church a solemn peal they toll
A requiem of soft harmony to rest the parted soul
The dove-like wings of Sacred Peace are brooding o'er the scene
No troubled wind goes murmuring through grove & alley green
No cloud sits in the tranquil sky or flings a fitful shade
Upon the bosoms shadowless of forest walk or glade
But calmly the descending sun smiles through a halo bright
And joyously the sportive deer bound in his setting light
Amid these huge ancestral trees how merrily they leap
Through the alternate bursts of light or gloom profoundly deep
They know not that the might of death hath borne that form away
That angel form of innocence round which they loved to play
They heard not the lament which rung through yonder lordly hall
The hymn of woe which late was sung o'er sable bier & pall
And little know they of the grief that darkens Percy's brow
And weighs a bitter burden on his haughty heart even now
Alone he stands & motionless in that small cemetery
No paleness on his brow or cheek no moisture in his eye
With arms enfolded on his breast mute as a sculptured stone
He utters not a whispered word he murmurs not a moan
His eyes are on his Mary's tomb, fresh mid surrounding waves
But his thoughts are wandering far amid a raging world of waves
He thinks upon that bygone time, when with his Rover free
All bright with beauty dark with crime he swept the earth-wide sea
The conquering, the invincible, the angel-like in form
The fiend in heart he heeded not the moaning of the storm
He loved the voice of ocean strife the thunder of the flood
Where he quenched his thirst for glory in war's wine-red cup of blood
But not on conflicts of the deep dwells his dark spirit now
No other actions other scenes within his memory grow
The wild waves of the Genii deep
Roll dark before his mental eye
And waken from their silent sleep
Thoughts that can never, never die
That barren shore, that, briny sea
That sound of saddest harmony
Which still o'er those green waters wailed
All in their ancient might return
Again they roll again they mourn
While half in mist-wreaths veiled
Arise high rocks, sweep up steep Fells
Cliffs where the monarch Eagle dwells
Hill beyond Hill receding swells
And all between lye wildest dells
Where not a green herb grows
Where no sweet floweret droops its bells
And no bright streamlet flows
Afar off the dim Spirits throne
Towers in it's haughtiness alone
Clouds on its brow repose
And nearer soars the Robbers Hill
Where deeds that might the heart's blood chill
And every nerve with horror thrill
Have cursed the light of day
Whose were those deeds? he knows full well
No need for other tongue to tell
Since Percy's soul can say
How once their came to that dark land
Across that stormy water
The dread scourge of a Pirate band
Stern ruthless sons of slaughter
And not a hearth on hill or vale
Round all that salt lake's border
But echoed to the long death wail
Or bore the stain of murder
He was the leader of that band
He led those hell-hounds to the land
Yes he it was the, Fair the young
From a proud line of nobles sprung
A race by bard & minstrel sung
That passed with them the Flood
And while sharp death-shrieks round him rung
Smiled at the scene of blood

But yet at times the Corsair had far other moods than these
He still within his bosom held some human sympathies
His heart yet answered to the thrill of loves all conquering power
Here first he saw his Mary's form, that sweet but faded flower
It was about the set of sun when heaven blushed crimson bright
And the Great Lake from east to west rolled on in waves of light
When he in melancholy thought paced slow beside the sea
Soothed by the sound of surge and wave which murmured mournfully
When sudden through the evening sky, a strain of music stole
So sweet, so sad its melody thrilled through his inmost soul
And then a voice most silver sweet joined in that vesper song
And woke the laughter of the arch those caverned rocks among
O! still that voice is in his ear, its tones will never die
But low & faint they murmur on like some wild harp's last sigh
Thus while the answering echoes rung
That lyre was swept that strain was sung
There are lands where scents of flowers
All the air with fragrance fill
Where Fountains spring in myrtle bowers
But I love my native hill
There are lands where birds are singing
Ceaselessly their notes they trill
Till the earth with song is ringing
But I love my native hill
There are lands where woods are waving
Under skies for ever still
Lands which golden streams are laving
But I love my native hill
Though its barren stony wildness
Every heart with dread might chill
Though beneath no heaven of mildness
Yet I love my native hill

Slowly lord Percy raised his head, when ceased that gentle strain
Before him rose a giant rock far beetling o'er the main
And at his foot a maiden sat so young so mildly fair
She seemed a vision of the deep, a spirit of the air
Beside her on the silvery sand a ivory lyre was laid
Her plume was from the eagle's wing her robe a rainbow plaid
Soft parted on her placid brow like gloss her tresses beamed
And down the neck of stainless snow in sunny ringlets streamed
Her eyes were on the wandering waves that murmured at her feet
And the dark drooping lashes hid their lustre calm & sweet
But as the pirate's stately step along the beach drew nigh
The lids were raised & showed beneath an azure like the sky
Up sprung the lady with a shriek faint tremulous with dread
She knew the robber of the deep by his girdle bloody red
Fear not said he in gentlest tones fear not sweet mountain rose
I would not by one word or deed break thy pure hearts repose
Look on me lady am I one whom thou hast cause to fly
Is aught of Rapine on my brow of fierceness in my eye
She looked, a figure stood beside
Formed in the very mould of pride
Almost of Giant height
His curled lip wore a winning smile
But his dark raidiant eye the while
Shone with a haughty light
Needs not to tell what feelings stole
O'er that young mountain maiden's soul
When she beheld that noble form
Needs not to tell the mortal love
That soon a passion wild & warm
Bound the proud Eagle to the dove
Full oft in many an after night
They met upon the sea swept shore
While o'er them sailed the stars of light
And round them rang the wild wave's roar
Oft in the time of Star & dew
When winds fall low & skies gleam blue
When all the sounds of discord cease
And balmiest breezes whisper peace
When moonlight sleeps on hill & vale
So soft & soothing pure & pale
Would these two faithful lovers wander
Beside the dark lakes ceaseless thunder
Or far away through some wild glen
Stony & dark as cavarned den
Which seldom heard the voice of men
And seldom felt their tread
And there the silence stern & deep
Was dreary as the dreamless sleep
Of the unwaking dead
O How their accents low and calm
Went murmuring on the night-wind's balm
Through each dark rock recess
How happy then each lover's heart
How sad when morning bid them part
O those were hours of bliss
And now on Percy they return
With such a might from memory's urn
That heart & spirit kindled burn
To think that what has been
Can never while the clear stars shine
While man is sinful God divine
Can never be again
For her sweet form is dust to dust
Her holy spirit with the just
The pure the sanctified
And Hell's own pangs rend Percy's breast
To see her in the heaven of rest
To know himself denied
He feels they never may meet more
For Death's wide sea without a shore
Rolls boundlessly between
Then corpse-like grew his cheek & brow
And from his eyes came rushing now
Hot tears like burning rain
O! is their peace for him in heaven
Can all his crimes be yet forgiven
He lifted to the moonbeams bright
A face & forehead ghastly white
Pale lips that moved in prayer
But ere the mute petition rose
Again his softened feelings froze
Dryed on his cheek his tear
Again the infidels black night
Closed o'er that glimpse of heaven's own light
Lord Percy turned away
He left with death his buried bride
And filled with the storm fiend of pride
Went on his homeward way