 | Young Arthur |  |
THE RUIN AND THE IVY.
A mouldering ruin seem'd sullen to stand,
Like the spirit of Greatness oppress'd by the band
Of tyranny; scorning the arrogant hand,
But too feeble to stay its rude fall;
The portal, thro' which noble guests had flock'd fast,
Now, open, admits but the boor and the blast;
And nothing remains to the present of past
But the ivy that clings 'round the wall.
Like the spirit of Greatness oppress'd by the band
Of tyranny; scorning the arrogant hand,
But too feeble to stay its rude fall;
The portal, thro' which noble guests had flock'd fast,
Now, open, admits but the boor and the blast;
And nothing remains to the present of past
But the ivy that clings 'round the wall.
O, many the strain there has echoed around,
And many the feet that have danc'd to the sound;
Now the owl and the bat are sole visitors found
Where the Brave and the Fair grac'd the ball;
For ruin came there; and the Fair, and the Gay,
All fled, as, when sun sets, flit shadows away;
And nothing that pictures of friendship will stay
But the ivy that clings 'round the wall.
And many the feet that have danc'd to the sound;
Now the owl and the bat are sole visitors found
Where the Brave and the Fair grac'd the ball;
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All fled, as, when sun sets, flit shadows away;
And nothing that pictures of friendship will stay
But the ivy that clings 'round the wall.
It grew when the Gallant with gaiety came,
When the castle tow'rd high; far resounded its fame;
Now nothing is left but its sear and its shame,
For its form scarce can mem'ry recall:
But, by all though forsaken, in ruin still proud,
It moulders in silence, its wrongs speak aloud;
Yet friendship still cheers it, despiting the croud,
In the ivy that clings 'round the wall.
When the castle tow'rd high; far resounded its fame;
Now nothing is left but its sear and its shame,
For its form scarce can mem'ry recall:
But, by all though forsaken, in ruin still proud,
It moulders in silence, its wrongs speak aloud;
Yet friendship still cheers it, despiting the croud,
In the ivy that clings 'round the wall.
| Young Arthur | |