Perdita

The sea coast of Bohemia     Is pleasant to the view     When singing larks spring from the grass     To fade into the blue,     And all the hawthorn hedges break     In wreaths of purest snow,     And yellow daffodils are out,     And roses half in blow.     The sea-coast of Bohemia     Is sad as sad can be,     The prince has taen our flower of maids     Across the violet sea;     Our Perdita has gone with him,     No more we dance the round     Upon the green in joyous play,     Or wake the tabors sound.     The sea-coast of Bohemia     Has many wonders seen,     The shepherd lass wed with a king,     The shepherd with a queen;     But such a wonder as my love     Was never seen before,     It is my joy and sorrow now     To love her evermore.     The sea-coast of Bohemia     Is haunted by a light     Of memory fair of ladys eyes,     And fame of gallant knight;     The princes seek its charmd strand,     But ah, it was our knell     When oer the sea our Perdita     Went with young Florizel.     The sea-coast of Bohemia     Is not my resting-place,     For with her waned from out the day     A beauty and a grace:     O had I kissed her on the lips     I would no longer weep,     But live by that until the day     I fall to shade and sleep