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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  582. The Young May Moon

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

Thomas Moore. 1779–1852

582. The Young May Moon

THE young May moon is beaming, love, 
The glow-worm’s lamp is gleaming, love; 
        How sweet to rove 
        Through Morna’s grove, 
When the drowsy world is dreaming, love!         5
Then awake!—the heavens look bright, my dear, 
‘Tis never too late for delight, my dear; 
        And the best of all ways 
        To lengthen our days 
Is to steal a few hours from the night, my dear!  10
 
Now all the world is sleeping, love, 
But the Sage, his star-watch keeping, love, 
        And I, whose star 
        More glorious far 
Is the eye from that casement peeping, love.  15
Then awake!—till rise of sun, my dear, 
The Sage’s glass we’ll shun, my dear, 
        Or in watching the flight 
        Of bodies of light 
He might happen to take thee for one, my dear!  20