Serenade
Silence now the air pervading
Scarce a breath disturbs her reign;
Hark my lute her power invading,
Bids the echoes wake again.
Where yon vines so thickly cluster,
O’er yon arbour’s light alcove,
Shining in the moon’s soft lustre,
Lies the object of my love.
Do you sleep ungrateful maiden,
Careless of your lover’s pain;
O’er whose eyes, by sorrow laden
Sleep forgets her balmy reign.
Or to his remembrance waking,
Do you equal passion feel,
Oh then now, your couch forsaking
To your trellised window steal.
Let not fear your mind encumber,
That our foes should watchful prove,
Every eye is sealed in slumber
Save the eyes that wake to love.
O’er yon tide, so softly flowing,
See the moon’s mild radiance falls,
Gilds yon vale, where olives growing,
Shroud yon convent’s sainted walls.
O’er yon grove of orange playing,
Zephyrs load with sweets the air,
Rise, my love, the scene surveying,
Nature’s loveliest prospects share.
Hark! her latticed door unfolding
Fair Elvira seeks the bower,
These fond eyes her charms beholding
Soon shall bless the happy hour.
Hark! her soft guitar resounding
Breathes upon the midnight air,
Its soft notes to mine responding,
Here ye gentle Zephyrs bear.
Hark! her mellow voice uniting
Steals upon my ravished ear
Every finer sense delighting,
Hush — my heart be still and hear.
Reply
From yon shaded terrace stealing,
What sweet joys those strains impart,
That Alfonso’s love revealing,
Sink into Elvira’s heart.
Why her tender feeling wounding,
Can you doubt her constant love,
Love, which all the scene surrounding,
Must to your fond memory prove.
Ah! should our harsh foes preventing,
Still our faithful hearts divide,
And ingenious in tormenting,
Fix me as another’s bride.
From their furious rage excluded,
I will seek that convent’s cell,
From the world and thee secluded,
There a cloistered virgin dwell.
Though from thee dear youth to sever,
Then may cost me many a tear,
Yet we do not part for ever,
And a happier world is near.
But the harbinger of morning
Hark that convent matins bell
Hence, or days bright radiance dawning
Will they lingering steps reveal.
May the holy Virgin guard thee
Safe from every prying eye,
Let no tender thoughts retard thee,
Hence, adieu, Alfonso — fly.