Landon in The Literary Gazette 1826/Greek Song

by Letitia Elizabeth Landon

Literary Gazette, 11th March, 1826, Page 155

ORIGINAL POETRY.

GREEK SONG.

Well, fill the goblet, till the wave
    Dances above the golden rim,
Sparkling as if a thousand stars
    We're floating on the purple brim.

Here is a rose, sweet as if Spring
    Had yielded her first love-sigh there—
This red leaf has touch'd Leila's lip,
    And this has fallen from her hair.

Ay, fling the crimson leaves to float
    Like kisses on the sunny wine—
Hallow it with thy maiden's name—
    Drink thou thy pledge—I will drink mine.

Here drink I to proud Marathon—
    Here drink I to our own blue skies—
Here drink I to the Crescent's fall—
    Here drink I to the Cross's rise—

I drink to the red pine of War,
    And to the olive green of Peace—
Here's to Greece and its memories—
    And here is to the hopes of Greece!

Break, break the cup—no meaner pledge
    This sacred goblet must profane;
And may its fragments emblem those
    Predestined to the Moslem chain!
L. E. L.