'Tis believed that this harp which i wake now for thee Was a siren of old who sung under the sea And who often at eve through the bright billows roved To meet on the green shore a youth whom she loved But she loved him in vain for he left her to weep And in tears all the night her gold ringlets to steep Till heav'n looked with pity on true love so warm And changed to this soft harp the sea maiden's form Still her bosom rose fair still still her cheek smiled the same While her sea beauties gracefully curled round the frame And her hair shedding teardrops from all its bright rings Fell over her white arms to make the gold strings Hence it came that this soft harp so long had been known To mingle love's language with sorrow's sad tone Till thou didst divide them and teach the fond lay To be love when i'm near thee and grief when away