Ballade Of Arcady

Oh, Life sings in a joyous strain When Cupid holds our hearts in fee; The days such happiness contain, The nights bring merry revelry. Our souls are tuned to highest key, Our hearts from joy know not surcease;— Yet this one truth comes home to me, The dearest gift of Love is Peace.

When many roguish smiles enchain, When many voices chime in glee, An interest in them all I feign, And each the fairest seems to be. But one I seek all earnestly, As Jason sought the Golden Fleece, Whose heart would fain agree with me, The dearest gift of Love is Peace.

My fond quest has not been in vain, Shyly she listened to my plea; And Cupid, peeping at us twain, Smiled as I knelt on bended knee. From gay enchantments now I’m free, I feel their trifling charms decrease, From all their blandishments I flee, The dearest gift of Love is Peace.