And many a weary night went by,
As in the lonely cave he lay,
And many a sun rolled through the sky,
And poured its beams on Colonsay;
And oft, beneath the silver moon,
He heard afar the mermaid sing,
And oft, to many a melting tune,
The shell-formed lyres of ocean ring;
And when the moon went down the sky,
Still rose, in dreams, his native plain,
And oft he thought his love was by,
And charmed him with some tender strain;
And, heart-sick, oft he waked to weep,
When ceased that voice of silver sound,
And thought to plunge him in the deep,
That walled his crystal cavern round.
But still the ring, of ruby red,
Retained its vivid crimson hue,
And each despairing accent fled,
To find his gentle love so true.
When seven long lonely months were gone,
The mermaid to his cavern came,
No more mishapen from the zone,
But like a maid of mortal frame.
"O give to me that ruby ring,
"That on thy finger glances gay,
"And thou shalt hear the mermaid sing
"The song, thou lovest, of Colonsay."
"This ruby ring, of crimson grain,
"Shall on thy finger glitter gay,
"If thou wilt bear me through the main,
"Again to visit Colonsay."
"Except thou quit thy former love,
"Content to dwell, for ay, with me,
"Thy scorn my finny frame might move,
"To tear thy limbs amid the sea."
"Then bear me swift along the main,
"The lonely isle again to see,
"And, when I here return again,
"I plight my faith to dwell with thee."