George Gordon Byron

Hebrew Melodies 2. The Harp the Monarch Minstrel Swept

I.

⁠    The Harp the Monarch Minstrel swept,
         ⁠⁠The King of men, the loved of Heaven!
⁠    Which Music hallowed while she wept
         ⁠⁠O'er tones her heart of hearts had given—
Redoubled be her tears, its chords are riven!
⁠    It softened men of iron mould,
⁠⁠         It gave them virtues not their own;
⁠    No ear so dull, no soul so cold,
         ⁠⁠That felt not—fired not to the tone,
Till David's Lyre grew mightier than his Throne!

II.

⁠    ⁠It told the triumphs of our King,
⁠⁠⁠⁠         It wafted glory to our God;
⁠    ⁠It made our gladdened valleys ring,
⁠⁠         ⁠⁠The cedars bow, the mountains nod;
Its sound aspired to Heaven and there abode!
⁠⁠    Since then, though heard on earth no more,
⁠    ⁠     ⁠⁠Devotion and her daughter Love
⁠⁠    Still bid the bursting spirit soar
⁠⁠         To sounds that seem as from above,
In dreams that day's broad light can not remove.