Full Lyrics
Note: only the lines appearing in bold were set to the music. For the original "Killing" and "heavenly", Callcott substituted, in each instance, "beautiful".
Are the white hours for ever fled
That used to mark the cheerful day?
And every blooming [killing] pleasure dead
That led the enraptured soul away?
Too fast the rosyfooted train,
The blessed, delicious moments passed;
Pleasure must now give way to pain,
And grief succeeds to joy at last.
O, daughters of eternal Jove!
Return with the returning year:
Bring pleasure back again and love!
With blooming [heavenly] smiles again appear!
O bring my H y to my sight!
What happy hour will then be by?
And while I'm dying with delight,
Her soul shall speak through either eye.
Let sacred friendship too attend;
The man whose soul is most like mine.
Bring B , my ever dearest friend,
And fill the bowl with rosy wine :
We'll grasp the minutes as they pass,
Unconscious of all future woes;
Mirth, love and joy shall crown each glass,
And cast our sorrows to our foes.
Let every white and happy hour
Which fate has to my life decreed
With rosy wings its blessings shower,
And each in order still succeed:
But when the shortlived smiling store
No longer can my bliss engage,
Cut off the useless thousands more
And add them to some coward's age!
