Now 'tis moonlight's softest hour,
When fairies leave their elfin bower
To gambol on the dewy green,
By mortal eyes alone unseen;
When sea-nymphs from their coral cells
Ascend, in cars of motley shells,
To wanton 'midst the waves above,
And hail the sacred hour of love;
When spirits floating in the air,
The balmy breath of evening share;
And every sprite and nymph and fay
Awakes to joy, till dawn of day.
Now they glide in mazy round--
Now with airy footsteps bound--
Sporting beneath the bright moonbeams,
Where'er their sparkling radiance gleams.
Hark! mingling with the sighing breeze,
What wild, unearthly sounds are these,
Now swelling high, like choral strain,
Then sinking, murm'ring low again?
List! 'tis the spirits' vesper song,
Borne by the gentle gale along,
And myriad voices joining there
Arise from ocean, earth, and air!
Hail to thee! hail to thee! Queen of Night!
Hail to thy mild and hallow'd light,
That brightly beams
Or faintly gleams
From thine azure throne, great Queen of Night!
Hail to thy clear and tranquil ray!
Oh! dearer far than gaudy day.
We own thy power,
And love thy hour,
Thou goddess of the silver ray!
Ever to thee fresh hymns we'll raise,
Ever unite to chant thy praise;
Be still our guide,
Nor darkly hide
Thy glories from our ardent gaze!
Now, when the world is sunk in sleep,
We our moonlight revels keep,
And merrily play
Or gaily stray,
Where Fancy wills, till daylight peep.
Come, let us dive to ocean's caves,
Or lightly skim its dark blue waves;
Or wander o'er
The rocky shore,
And the smooth and sparkling sand it laves.
Come, let us mount to airy halls,
Where'er the voice of pleasure calls;
Above, below,
Fearless we go--
No danger daunts, no dread appals.
Then hail to thee! hail, oh Queen of Night!
Hail to thy mild and hallow'd light,
That brightly beams
Or faintly gleams
From thine azure throne, great Queen of Night!