999. The Tsigane's Canzonet by Edward King. Stedman, Edmund Clarence, ed. 1900. An American Anthology, 1787-1900

Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

999. The Tsigane’s Canzonet

By Edward King


I NO! No!
Bird in the darkness singing,
I will not forget!
Trill me thy tender lay again,—
Thy song of passion and of pain;	5
Set all the sweet vale ringing
With thy canzonet.
Cling to thy branch, O bird, and cry,
“Love me, my love, or let me die!”
With ecstasy I hear thee,	10
And trembling linger near thee;
So let thine exquisite pure melody o’erflow this narrow space, and inundate the sky!
The winds that wander by
Will bear it to my love;
But I need not to prove	15
My loyalty with song,
For I have loved her long!
No! No!
Bird in the darkness singing,
I will not forget!	20

II No! No!
Great river nobly flowing,
I will not forget!
Tell every flower that bends to kiss
Thy wave, how truest lover’s bliss	25
Within my heart is glowing,
In my soul stays yet!
With murmur sweet, fair stream, proclaim
The magic of my lady’s name
To every graceful willow	30
That sways above each billow;
To every reed beside thy banks so broad and low tell of her beauty and her spotless fame.
But seek not me to blame,
For I am loyal still;
My heart knows but her will;	35
The thought of her caress
Is ever here to bless:
No! No!
Great river nobly flowing,
I will not forget.	40