Sweet evening hour! thy gale is balm,
And fragrant are thy pearly dews;
Thine is the mild and genial calm,
Belov'd by zephyr and the muse.
With fading smile the rosy day,
Now lingers in the radiant west;
The breezes o'er the water play,
The summer waves are lull'd to rest.
I love to mark the glowing skies,
Reflected in the glassy deep;
To watch the star of evening rise,
When all the ocean seems to sleep.
But see! the twilight mantle gray,
O'er all the fading view is spread;
The glowing skies are pass'd away,
The bright and purple clouds are fled.
While memory loves unseen to mourn,
Alone to shed the sacred tear;
Still to the muse thy blest return,
Oh! pensive twilight, shall be dear.
Now let me pour the soothing lay,
And hear the waves that murmuring glide;
And wander till the moonlight ray,
Serenely trembles on the tide.
Come, gentle Fancy, rove with me,
At this thy favourite shadowy hour;
Awake soft music, from the sea,
And call the fairies by thy power.