Verses from Maoriland/Frater Ave atque Vale
FRATER AVE ATQUE VALE
We sailed away that sweet Spring day,
And out across the harbour-bar;
The sun shone bright, the foam gleamed white,
The snowy mountains glittered far.
And out across the harbour-bar;
The sun shone bright, the foam gleamed white,
The snowy mountains glittered far.
A careless kiss, a gay good-bye,
We only part to meet again!
Upon the sand he waved his hand,
We waved to him in merry vein.
We only part to meet again!
Upon the sand he waved his hand,
We waved to him in merry vein.
The cliffs gloomed grim, the pier grew dim,
And dim the line of bush-clad shore;—
O idle laughter! light farewell!
We part, who meet not any more.
And dim the line of bush-clad shore;—
O idle laughter! light farewell!
We part, who meet not any more.
We sailed again in vain, in vain !
Across the angry harbour-bar;—
The sun shone bright, the foam gleamed white,
The snowy mountains glittered far.
Across the angry harbour-bar;—
The sun shone bright, the foam gleamed white,
The snowy mountains glittered far.
No greeting word that day we heard,
Nor any welcoming we had;
Across the pier a funeral bier
Was borne in silence slow and sad.
Nor any welcoming we had;
Across the pier a funeral bier
Was borne in silence slow and sad.
His bed is deep, and sound his sleep;
The bush-birds sing him lullabies;
Beneath his own dear forest trees
In God’s own solitude he lies.
The bush-birds sing him lullabies;
Beneath his own dear forest trees
In God’s own solitude he lies.
Farewell, farewell! no passing-bell
Disturbs their rest who sleep like thee;
Sleep, brother, sleep! thy bed is deep,
Thy face is towards the open sea!
Disturbs their rest who sleep like thee;
Sleep, brother, sleep! thy bed is deep,
Thy face is towards the open sea!