National Lyrics, and Songs for Music/The Rio Verde Song
III.
THE RIO VERDE SONG.
The Rio Verde, a small river of Spain, is celebrated in the old ballad romances of their country for the frequent combats on its banks, between Moor and Christian. The ballad referring to this stream, in Percy's Reliques,
"Gentle river, gentle river,
Lo! thy streams are stained with gore,"
will be remembered by many readers.
III.
THE RIO VERDE SONG.
Flow, Rio Verde!
In melody flow;
Win her that weepeth
To slumber from woe;
Bid thy wave's music
Roll thro' her dreams,
Grief ever loveth
The kind voice of streams.
Bear her lone spirit
Afar on the sound,
Back to her childhood,
Her life's fairy ground;
Pass like the whisper
Of love that is gone—
—Flow, Rio Verde!
Softly flow on!
Dark glassy water
So crimson'd of yore!
Love, death, and sorrow
Know thy green shore.
Thou shouldst have echoes
For grief's deepest tone—
—Flow, Rio Verde,
Softly flow on!