The Welcome

Come in the evening, or come in the morning;
  Come when you ’re look’d for, or come without warning:
  Kisses and welcome you ’ll find here before you,
  And the oftener you come here the more I ’ll adore you!
  Light is my heart since the day we were plighted;
  Red is my cheek that they told me was blighted;
  The green of the trees looks far greener than ever,
  And the linnets are singing, “True lovers don’t sever!”

  I ’ll pull you sweet flowers, to wear if you choose them,
  Or, after you’ve kiss’d them, they ’ll lie on my bosom;
  I ’ll fetch from the mountain its breeze to inspire you;
  I ’ll fetch from my fancy a tale that won’t tire you.
  Oh! your step’s like the rain to the summer-vex’d farmer,
  Or sabre and shield to a knight without armor;
  I ’ll sing you sweet songs till the stars rise above me,
  Then, wandering, I ’ll wish you in silence to love me.

  We ’ll look through the trees at the cliff and the eyrie;
  We ’ll tread round the rath on the track of the fairy;
  We ’ll look on the stars, and we ’ll list to the river,
  Till you ask of your darling what gift you can give her:
  Oh! she ’ll whisper you “Love, as unchangeably beaming,
  And trust, when in secret, most tunefully streaming;
  Till the starlight of heaven above us shall quiver,
  As our souls flow in one down eternity’s river.”

  So come in the evening, or come in the morning;
  Come when you ’re looked for, or come without warning:
  Kisses and welcome you ’ll find here before you,
  And the oftener you come here the more I ’ll adore you!
  Light is my heart since the day we were plighted;
  Red is my cheek that they told me was blighted;
  The green of the trees looks far greener than ever,
  And the linnets are singing, “True lovers don’t sever!”