| |
| DUSK, a pearl-grey river, o’er | |
| Hill and vale puts out the day— | |
| What do you wonder at, asthore, | |
| What’s away in yonder grey? | |
| |
| Dark the eyes that linger long— | 5 |
| Dream-fed heart, awake, come in, | |
| Warm the hearth and gay the song: | |
| Love with tender words would win. | |
| |
| Fades the eve in dreamy fire, | |
| But the heart of night is lit: | 10 |
| Ancient beauty, old desire, | |
| By the cabin doorway flit. | |
| |
| This is Etain’s land and line, | |
| And the homespun cannot hide | |
| Kinship with a race divine, | 15 |
| Thrill of rapture, light of pride. | |
| |
| There her golden kinsmen are: | |
| And her heart a moment knew | |
| Angus like the evening star | |
| Fleeting through the dusk and dew. | 20 |
| |
| Throw the woman’s mask away: | |
| Wear the opal glimmering dress; | |
| Let the feathered starlight ray | |
| Over every gleaming tress. | |
| |
| Child of Etain, wherefore leave | 25 |
| Light and laughter, joyful years, | |
| For the earth’s grey coloured eve | |
| Ever dropping down with tears? | |
| |
| Was it for some love of old? | |
| Ah, reveal thyself. The bars | 30 |
| On the gateway would not hold: | |
| He will follow to the stars. | |
| |
