The boatmen are calling, "Stalì — stalì!" The glory is falling On me — on me! The sunlight is shaking The bay — the bay! Then up and be waking; "Già è — già è" In Venice the golden, To dream — to dream. With love-stories olden, For theme — for theme! The blue sky above her Fair sea — fair sea, Laughs light on the lover; "Stalì — stalì!" The waves are her highways, So deep — so deep! The waters her byways, Asleep — asleep! No stir in the air is. No sound — no sound, Save footsteps of fairies. Around — around! The clouds of the hazy Forenoon — forenoon. Sleep over the lazy Lagoon — lagoon! About us a glamour Doth move — doth move. The sense to enamour Of love — of love! The Doges are perished. And gone — and gone; The sea-bride they cherished. Laughs on — laughs on! We pass through Death's portal, As they — as they; Like her. Love's immortal! "Già è — già è" The pride of the nations, "Stalì — stalì!" That hath for foundations The sea — the sea. Was made for a home, dear, For you — for you; Then why should we roam, dear, We two — we two?

Laura Alexandrine Smith provides an excerpt of this song in Music of the Waters, 1888, and it was well known to other writers spreading international song. Smith describes

the delightful dolce far niente of being rowed under soft Italian skies, by quaint and time-worn buildings, under gloomy romantic bridges, with a dark-eyed gondolier singing in his rich musical voice..

Stali and Già è are the “cries of the Venetian gondoliers”.