Sweet spirit, if thy airy sleep

Representative Text

1 Sweet spirit if thy airy sleep,
Nor sees my tears, nor hears my sighs,
Oh I will weep, in luxury weep;
Till the last heart's drop fill mine eyes

2 But if thy sainted soul can feel,
And mingle in our misery,
Then, then my breaking heart I'll seal,
Thou shalt not hear one sigh from me.

3 The beam of morn was on thy stream,
But sullen clouds the day deform;
Thou wert indeed that morning beam,
And death, alas! that sullen storm.

4 Thou wert not formed for living here,
For thou wert kindred with the sky;
Yet, yet we held thee all so dear,
We thought thou wert not form'd to die.

5 How sweetly could I lay my head
Within the cold grave's silent breast;
Where sorrow's tears so more are shed,
No more the ills of life molest.

6 For, ah my heart! how very soon
The glittering dreams of youth are past!
And long before it reach its noon,
The sun of life is overcast.

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... #22

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Author: Thomas Moore

Thomas Moore United Kingdom 1779-1852. Born at Dublin, Ireland, the son of a grocer, he showed an early interest in music and acting. He was educated at a private school and Trinity College, Dublin. He read at the Middle Temple for the Bar. Moore did not profess religious piety. His translations of ‘Anacreon’ (celebrating wine, women, and song) were published in 1800, with a dedication to the Prince of Wales. He also wrote a comic opera, “the gypsy prince”, staged that year. In 1801 he published a collection of his own verse, “Poetical works of the late Thomas Little Esq”. A Catholic patriot, he defended the Church of Ireland, especially in later politics. In 1803 he held a post under the Government in Bermuda as regis… Go to person page >

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