The bard of the dales or poems and miscellaneous pieces; with a life of the author, written by himself. By John Castillo |
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ON FRIENDSHIP. |
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 | The bard of the dales |  |
139
ON FRIENDSHIP.
Friendship, how sweet, thy charms I greet
With gladness when thy face I see;
In this I'm lost to count the cost,
To pay the debt I own to Thee.
With gladness when thy face I see;
In this I'm lost to count the cost,
To pay the debt I own to Thee.
At home, abroad, or on the road,
Thy virgin smile I often see;
Thy kindly hand, in a strange land,
Hath cheer'd, reviv'd, and welcom'd me.
Thy virgin smile I often see;
Thy kindly hand, in a strange land,
Hath cheer'd, reviv'd, and welcom'd me.
The starving poor well knows the door,
Or palace, where thou deign's to dwell;
And so do I; this to deny
Would prove me worse than Infidel.
Or palace, where thou deign's to dwell;
And so do I; this to deny
Would prove me worse than Infidel.
Thy golden ore on Britain's shore,
Lay scatter'd like the dew of morn;
Thy sister's love, thy charms approve,
And all thy purest acts adorn.
Lay scatter'd like the dew of morn;
Thy sister's love, thy charms approve,
And all thy purest acts adorn.
Thy beams divine more nobly shine,
When planted in a female breast;
Whose feeling heart acts a glad part,
To cheer the downcast or distrest.
When planted in a female breast;
Whose feeling heart acts a glad part,
To cheer the downcast or distrest.
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Whose dove-like eye when orphans cry,
With holdest not the crystal tear;
Thinks no disgrace such to embrace,
Feels every pang that seems severe.
With holdest not the crystal tear;
Thinks no disgrace such to embrace,
Feels every pang that seems severe.
While to the old her arms unfold,
When bending under loads of grief;
Thinks what they were, and what they are,
Shows pity, not without relief.
When bending under loads of grief;
Thinks what they were, and what they are,
Shows pity, not without relief.
May Heaven regard and such reward,
For all their secret acts of love;
And may she still their treasure fill,
And bring them safe to Heaven above.
For all their secret acts of love;
And may she still their treasure fill,
And bring them safe to Heaven above.
When far from home I've chanc'd to roam,
And night's dark shade did me surround,
I've sought to gain—nor sought in vain,
The smiling welcome I have found.
And night's dark shade did me surround,
I've sought to gain—nor sought in vain,
The smiling welcome I have found.
When at the door, at a late hour,
Griev'd to disturb such silent rest;
Fear and hope fight, to have their right;
To knock, or travel, which was best.
Griev'd to disturb such silent rest;
Fear and hope fight, to have their right;
To knock, or travel, which was best.
Hope conquers, and the trembling hand
Lifts the rapper; lifts his eyes;
A damsel bright appears in sight,
Without dismay, without surprise.
Lifts the rapper; lifts his eyes;
A damsel bright appears in sight,
Without dismay, without surprise.
I did rejoice to hear her voice—
When damp with nightly dews I'd been;
See her come down without a frown,
To let the weary wanderer in.
When damp with nightly dews I'd been;
See her come down without a frown,
To let the weary wanderer in.
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For such, dear Ann, I never can
Pay you sufficient recompence:
Those lines I've penn'd, and to you send,
As a token of remembrance.
Pay you sufficient recompence:
Those lines I've penn'd, and to you send,
As a token of remembrance.
It may be said, when I'm low laid,
By thee, or some allied to thee;
Come, friend give ear, and you shall hear,
Some of poor Castee's poetry.
By thee, or some allied to thee;
Come, friend give ear, and you shall hear,
Some of poor Castee's poetry.
| The bard of the dales | |