The lay of an Irish harp :: :: University of Virginia Library

Thy silent wing, oh Time! hath chased away
Some feathery hours of youth's fleet frolic joy,
Since first I hung upon the simple lay,
And shared the raptures of a minstrel boy.

II

Since first I caught the ray's reflected light
Which genius emanated o'er his soul,
Or distant follow'd the enthusiast's flight,
Or from his fairy dreams a vision stole.

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III

His bud of life was then but in its spring,
Mine scarce a germ in nature's bloomy wreath;
He taught my infant muse t' expand her wing,
I taught his youthful heart's first sigh to breathe.

IV

In sooth he was not one of common mould,
His fervid soul on thought's fleet pinions borne,
Now sought its kindred heaven sublimely bold,
Now stoop'd the woes of kindred man to mourn.

V

For in his dark eye beams of genius shone
Through the pure crystal of a feeling tear,
And still pale Sorrow claim'd him as her own,
By the sad shade she taught his smile to wear.

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VI

Though from his birth the Muses' matchless boy,
Though still she taught his wild strain's melting flow,
And proudly own'd him with a mother's joy,
He only call'd himself “the Child of Woe.”

VII

For still the world each finer transport chill'd
That stole o'er feeling's nerve or fancy's dream,
And when each pulse to Hope's warm pressure thrill'd,
Experience chased Hope's illusory beam.

VIII

Too oft indeed, by Passion's whirlwind driven,
Far from cold Prudence' level path to stray,
Too oft he deem'd that light “a light from heaven”
That lured him on to Pleasure's flow'ry way.

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IX

To bliss abandon'd; now pursued by woe;
The world's sad outcast; now the world's proud gaze;
The vine and yew alternate wreath'd his brow,
The soldier's laurel, and the poet's bays.

X

Example's baleful force, temptation's wile,
Guided the wand'rings of his pilgrim years;
Fancy's warm child, deceiv'd by Fortune's smile,
That steep'd th' expecting glance in mis'ry's tears.

XI

The sport of destiny, “Creation's heir,”
From realm to realm, from clime to clime he rov'd,
Check'd by no guardian tie, no parent care,
For oh! a parent's love his heart ne'er prov'd.

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XII

Yet vain did Absence wave the oblivious wand
One spark still glim'ring in his breast to chill,
Illum'd by Sympathy's unerring hand,
That still awaked his lyre's responsive thrill.

XIII

Though o'er eternity's unbounded space
The knell of many a fleeting year had toll'd,
And weeping mem'ry many a change could trace
That made affection's vital stream run cold;

XIV

Yet still those laws immutable and true
To nature's void, attraction's sacred laws,
Each spirit to its kindred spirit drew,
Of sweet effects, the fond and final cause.

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XV

But oh! when cherish'd Hope reposed its soul
Upon a new-born certainty of joy,
Death from the arms of pending pleasures stole,
And years of promis'd bliss, the Minstrel Boy.