Themes and Variations/Mignon's Song
MIGNON’S SONG.
NEW WORLD.
Kwow’st thou an island on the misty ocean,
Green, green with fern, and many an ancient tree,
Whose waving tops, with soft perpetual motion
Repeat the same primeval melody?
Green, green with fern, and many an ancient tree,
Whose waving tops, with soft perpetual motion
Repeat the same primeval melody?
The rata with the red pine interlaces,
And lights the forest with a scarlet gleam.
The sunshine on the hills the shadow chases;
The fern-tree bends in silence o’er the stream.
And lights the forest with a scarlet gleam.
The sunshine on the hills the shadow chases;
The fern-tree bends in silence o’er the stream.
I see the harvest slopes; the village under;
The rivulet lifts its music on the air.
Hearing far off the turbulent ocean-thunder,
It leaps in laughter down its rocky stair.
The rivulet lifts its music on the air.
Hearing far off the turbulent ocean-thunder,
It leaps in laughter down its rocky stair.
There is the snow-king’s palace and dominion!
Unchanged in summer’s glow and winter rain,
With frozen wings outspread, and icy pinion,
He floats above the level pastoral plain.
Unchanged in summer’s glow and winter rain,
With frozen wings outspread, and icy pinion,
He floats above the level pastoral plain.
Motionless, voiceless, pallid, yet immortal!
While far below the cloudy seasons roll;
Meeting the day, and night’s slow-closing portal,
He reads the ever-changing starry scroll.
While far below the cloudy seasons roll;
Meeting the day, and night’s slow-closing portal,
He reads the ever-changing starry scroll.
Oh there, beloved! There if we might wander,
Leaving this world of noisy hopes and fears,
Drink of the fount of youth that rises yonder,
And all forget our shadow-laden years!
Leaving this world of noisy hopes and fears,
Drink of the fount of youth that rises yonder,
And all forget our shadow-laden years!