What Woke the Buried Sound

What woke the buried sound that lay
In Memnon’s harp of yore?
What spirit on its viewless way
Along the Nile’s green shore?
Oh! not the night, and not the storm,
And not the lightning’s fire;
But sunlight’s torch, the kind, the warm--
This, this awoke the lyre.

What wins the heart’s deep chords to pour
Thus music forth on life--
Like a sweet voice prevailing o’er
The truant sounds of strife?
Oh! not the conflict midst the throng,
Not e’en the trumpet’s hour;
Love is the gifted and the strong,
To wake that music’s power!