2-982-361 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

"The Reapers' Song to the Harvest Moon", 1858. 'In the deep silence of the night We come, oh! Harvest Moon, To dance beneath thy gentle light, To many a merry tune. We come whilst thou in thoughtful sheen Art beaming from the blue, Through wild wood lone and meadow green, To tread the mellow dew, And pledge, ere Midnight's solemn noon, Our vows of love, oh, Harvest Moon! Whilst thou art Queen of earth and sky Thy stars around thee spread; Among the sheaves of corn and rye We think of daily bread, And thank the joyous seasons passed, The sunshine and the rain, The winter snow, the autumnal blast, For plenty of the plain, And call on thee, ere Midnight's noon, To hear the vow, oh, Harvest Moon! And when the joyous dance is o'er, By twos and threes we pass Through thicket green and wild wood hoar, To drain the brimming glass, And pledge, in cups of foaming ale, Our sweethearts and our wives, And pray that Harvest ne'er may fail, Nor joy to good men's lives; And call on thee, at Midnight's noon, To hear the vow, sweet Harvest Moon!'. From "Illustrated London News", 1858.