Beneath the touch of Hope, how soft, Till Fear would come, alas! as oft, And trembling close what Hope began. A tear or two had dropp'd from Grief, Which Love had still to smooth again! But, oh, there was a blooming boy, And Pleasure was this spirit's name, Would tremble for her spotless book! For still she saw his playful fingers Fill'd with sweets and wanton toys; And well she knew the stain that lingers After sweets from wanton boys! And so it chanced, one luckless night O'er the dear book so pure, so white, In vain he sought, with eager lip, The honey from the leaf to drink, For still the more the boy would sip, The deeper still the blot would sink! Oh, it would make you weep, to see And Fancy's emblems lost their glow, At length the urchin Pleasure fled, The index now alone remains, Of all the pages spoil'd by Pleasure, And though it bears some honey stains, Yet Memory counts the leaf a treasure! And oft, they say, she scans it o'er, I know not if this tale be true, But thus the simple facts are stated; And I refer their truth to you, Since Love and you are near related ! I SAW THY FORM IN YOUTHFUL PRIME. I SAW thy form in youthful prime, And waste its bloom away, Mary! As streams that run o'er golden mines, Nor seem to know the wealth that shines So, veil'd beneath the simplest guise, And that which charm'd all other eyes, If souls could always dwell above, We ne'er had lost thee here, Mary! To live with them is far less sweet I SAW FROM THE BEACH. I SAW from the beach, when the morning was shining, Ah! such is the fate of our life's early promise, So passing the spring-tide of joy we have known : Each wave, that we danced on at morning, ebbs from us, And leaves us, at eve, on the bleak shore alone! Ne'er tell me of glories, serenely adorning The close of our day, the calm eve of our night; Give me back, give me back the wild freshness of morning, Her clouds and her tears are worth evening's best light. Oh, who would not welcome that moment's returning, When passion first waked a new life through his frame, And his soul-like the wood that grows precious in burningGave out all its sweets to Love's exquisite flame! THIS LIFE IS ALL CHEQUERED WITH PLEASURES AND WOES. THIS life is all chequer'd with pleasures and woes, So closely our whims on our miseries tread, That the laugh is awaked ere the tear can be dried; And, as fast as the rain-drop of Pity is shed, The goose-feathers of Folly can turn it aside, But pledge me the cup-if existence would cloy With hearts ever happy, and heads ever wise, Be ours the light grief that is sister to Joy, And the short brilliant folly that flashes and dies! When Hylas was sent with his urn to the fount, Through fields full of sunshine, with heart full of play, Light rambled the boy over meadow and mount, And neglected his task for the flowers on the way. Their time with the flowers on the margin have wasted, One bright drop or two, that has fall'n on the leaves ST. JEROME'S LOVE. WHO is the maid my spirit seeks, Through cold reproof and slander's blight? I chose not her, my soul's elect, From those who seek their Maker's shrine As if themselves were things divine! Not so the faded form I prize Is all the grace her brow puts on. And ne'er was beauty's dawn so bright, So touching as that form's decay, Which, like the altar's trembling light, In holy lustre wastes away! OFT, IN THE STILLY NIGHT. OFT, in the stilly night, Ere Slumber's chain has bound me, Fond Memory brings the light Of other days around me; The smiles, the tears, Of boyhood's years, The words of love then spoken; The eyes that shone, Now dimm'd and gone, The cheerful hearts now broken! Thus, in the stilly night, Ere Slumber's chain has bound me, Sad Memory brings the light Of other days around me. When I remember all The friends, so link'd together, I've seen around me fall, Like leaves in wintry weather; I feel like one Who treads alone Some banquet-hall deserted, Whose lights are fled, Whose garland's dead, And all but he departed! Thus in the stilly night, Ere Slumber's chain has bound me, Sad Memory brings the light |