Oh! waves of Time's unbounded sea, Ye dash and foam above, The grave of centuries, and sweep, The shores of Faith and Love. But all too deep Life's jewels lie, Beneath thy lucent flood, Too dim her shining banner waves, Save where 'tis dyed in blood.
But o'er the desert of the years, There floats the echo faint, Of thy sweet voice 'neath eastern palms, Vexing with tearful plaint, Thy king. Oh! queen, upon thy brows, The crown in splendor shone, Thy beauty hallowing thy desire, Before thy monarch's throne.
But splendor of that titled court, Nor royal favor given, Shut out thy people's yearning cry, Nor closed thy heart to heaven. How beautiful thy clear faith shone, In God, and in thy king, Thy hand upon the sceptre laid, To gain thy boon of blessing.
Perhaps thy heart some sad hope held, Of love nipped in its prime, Perhaps some Hebrew lover mourned, The troth thou could'st not bind.
Oh! sunny shades of tropic bloom, The burning sunlight's flow, Slants down upon thy palms and tombs, As centuries ago. When from thy monarch's gate, Oh! queen, Went out, in royal vestment clad, Thy foster sire, thy people free, With feast and music glad.
And still thy race, Oh! beauteous queen, Do reverence to thy name, Who wert thy people's glorying, Thy foe's remorse and shame.
