Claud Halcro's Song

Farewell to Northmaven,     Grey Hillswicke, farewell!     The storms on thy haven,     The storms on thy fell,     To each breeze that can vary     The mood of thy main,     And to thee, bonny Mary!     We meet not again!     Farewell the wild ferry,     Which Hacon could brave,     When the peaks of the Skerry     Where white in the wave.     There's a maid may look over     These wild waves in vain,     For the skiff of her lover,     He comes not again!     The vows thou hast broke,     On the wild currents fling them;     On the quicksand and rock     Let the mermaidens sing them.     New sweetness they'll give her     Bewildering strain;     But there's one who will never     Believe them again.     O were there an island,     Though ever so wild,     Where woman could smile, and     No man be beguiled,     Too tempting a snare     To poor mortals were given;     And the hope would fix there,     That should anchor in heaven.