Yearning

Give me days of golden glory,

And my dungeon open wide,

And the fairest maid of story,

With a blackman'd steed to ride:

O'er the leas let me go springing,

Springing on my jetblack steed,

Life and freedom to me singing,

Songs I've yearn'd for in my need!

Place me in the hull all batter'd

Of a vessel tempesttoss'd;

Let the sails in shreds be tatter'd,

And the bark giv'n o'er as lost:

Leaping 'mid the wild commotion,

With no fear and with no stay,

I would wrestle with the ocean,

With its endless might at play.

Give to me a palace stately,

Where from tree and trellis tall,

Shady vines droop down sedately,

Fountains leap in marble hall.

Let them prattle and keep leaping,

Till soft slumber holds me fast,

Cool air round my temples creeping,

Till my dream as now is past.