The Tsigane's Canzonet

I           no! no!     Bird in the darkness singing,         I will not forget!     Trill me thy tender lay again,—     Thy song of passion and of pain;     Set all the sweet vale ringing         With thy canzonet. Cling to thy branch, O bird, and cry, “Love me, my love, or let me die!”     With ecstasy I hear thee,     And trembling linger near thee; So let thine exquisite pure melody o’erflow this narrow space, and inundate the sky!       The winds that wander by       Will bear it to my love;       But I need not to prove       My loyalty with song,       For I have loved her long!           No! No!     Bird in the darkness singing,         I will not forget! II           No! No!     Great river nobly flowing,         I will not forget! Tell every flower that bends to kiss Thy wave, how truest lover’s bliss     Within my heart is glowing,         In my soul stays yet! With murmur sweet, fair stream, proclaim The magic of my lady’s name     To every graceful willow     That sways above each billow; To every reed beside thy banks so broad and low tell of her beauty and her spotless fame.       But seek not me to blame,       For I am loyal still;       My heart knows but her will;       The thought of her caress       Is ever here to bless:           No! No!     Great river nobly flowing,         I will not forget.