 | Metrical Effusions |  |
33
TO MY LYRE.
Fond plaything of my brighter hours!
Vibrating once in notes of gladness,
By flatt'ring Hope once crown'd with flowers,
Thy master's heart now sinks in sadness!
Vibrating once in notes of gladness,
By flatt'ring Hope once crown'd with flowers,
Thy master's heart now sinks in sadness!
That heart which once in deepest gloom,
Watch'd for a more auspicious morrow;
Now deeply mourns its final doom,
Unmingl'd grief, and endless sorrow.
Watch'd for a more auspicious morrow;
Now deeply mourns its final doom,
Unmingl'd grief, and endless sorrow.
34
O! then, if, in some happier day,
Thy chords awoke the song of pleasure;
Now pour a soul-dissolving lay,
A mournful note, a plaintive measure.
Thy chords awoke the song of pleasure;
Now pour a soul-dissolving lay,
A mournful note, a plaintive measure.
If ever this presumptuous hand
Crown'd thee with flowers, those flowers are faded.
Henceforth, by misery's stern command,
Be with congenial cypress shaded!
Crown'd thee with flowers, those flowers are faded.
Henceforth, by misery's stern command,
Be with congenial cypress shaded!
No more, at Autumn's placid eve,
Shall softest zephyrs round thee playing,
With dreams of fancied bliss deceive
A heart on which despair is preying.
Shall softest zephyrs round thee playing,
With dreams of fancied bliss deceive
A heart on which despair is preying.
But, pendant on some leafless tree,
Through which November's blasts are mourning,
Thy hollow sounds a dirge shall be
For hours of joy no more returning.
Through which November's blasts are mourning,
Thy hollow sounds a dirge shall be
For hours of joy no more returning.
35
If, at that hour, by fortune led,
Forgetful Julia should pass by thee;
May howling gusts, portentous, dread,
With saddest notes of grief supply thee!
Forgetful Julia should pass by thee;
May howling gusts, portentous, dread,
With saddest notes of grief supply thee!
Who knows but from that plaintive sound
Her heart some sympathy may borrow;
And, on that brow where anger frown'd,
Be seen some transient gleam of sorrow?
Her heart some sympathy may borrow;
And, on that brow where anger frown'd,
Be seen some transient gleam of sorrow?
Yet, O my Lyre! if down that cheek,
One soft relenting tear be stealing;
In softest tones of pity speak,
And blunt each harsher, keener feeling.
One soft relenting tear be stealing;
In softest tones of pity speak,
And blunt each harsher, keener feeling.
For still to me her peace is dear,
Still this “distracted brain” remembers
The hours when bright-eyed Hope was near,
And fann'd expiring passion's embers.
Still this “distracted brain” remembers
The hours when bright-eyed Hope was near,
And fann'd expiring passion's embers.
36
Nor can those embers ever die;—
Though every dream of Hope be ended;
Still, Julia! thou shalt prompt the sigh
Of tenderest love and sorrow blended!
Though every dream of Hope be ended;
Still, Julia! thou shalt prompt the sigh
Of tenderest love and sorrow blended!
| Metrical Effusions | |