Let music roll in mournful strains

1 Let music roll in mournful strains,
while death his pris'ner binds in chains;
Each harper drest in grief's attire,
While sorrow tunes her mournful lyre!

2 Awake, awake each silent strain,
Wish melting notes new sorrows bring,
Till on the dirge my spirit files,
To the dark shade where SYLVIA lies!

3 Huge troubles rise on ev'ry side,
Like the fierce ocean's rapid tide;
The raging billows ceaseless roar,
Proclaim my SYLVIA is no more!

4 Her spirit's wing'd from earth away,
To realms of woe or endless day,
To join the joyful throng above,
In praising Christ's eternal love.

5 O! cruel tyrant! monster death!
To stop so soon my SYLVIA's breath;
To deck in mourning garbs of woe,
The face of nature where I go.

6 What mighty sorrows veil the land,
The lofty hills in mourning stand,
The crystal streams in sorrow glide,
And roll to meet the swelling tide!

7 Ye silent groves and meadows wail,
While anguish moves in ev'ry gale;
On swifter wings let nature fly,
To bear my troubled soul on high.

8 there let me find my SYLVIA dear,
Where death and sorrow reign no more,
Our souls once more in friendship blend,
Where rolling ages never end.

Source: The Delights of Harmony; or, Norfolk Compiler: being a new collection of psalm tunes, hymns and anthems with a variety of set pieces, from the most approved American and European authors... #42