Rhapsodies | ||
77
ON THE HEART,
ADDRESSED TO JOHN FELTHAM, ESQ.
In ev'ry mortal form resides
The panting source of breath;
From thence the purple current glides;
There centre life and death.
The panting source of breath;
From thence the purple current glides;
There centre life and death.
This flutt'ring pris'ner can impart
To man ecstatic joy;
The warm emotions of the heart
Yield bliss, or bliss destroy.
To man ecstatic joy;
The warm emotions of the heart
Yield bliss, or bliss destroy.
Thence flows the agonizing grief
For parent, kindred, friend;
'Tis this alone can yield relief,
And soothing comfort lend.
For parent, kindred, friend;
'Tis this alone can yield relief,
And soothing comfort lend.
But ah! more potent far than this
Is what we all must prove,
When we experience the soft bliss
Which flows from tender love.
Is what we all must prove,
When we experience the soft bliss
Which flows from tender love.
78
'Tis there the urchin's arrows fly,
Which raise the warm desire;
From thence bursts forth the fev'rish sigh,
When rapture fans the fire.
Which raise the warm desire;
From thence bursts forth the fev'rish sigh,
When rapture fans the fire.
Thus kindles in the heart each glow
That warms our senseless clod;
From thence those gen'rous feelings flow
Which stamp us sons of God.
That warms our senseless clod;
From thence those gen'rous feelings flow
Which stamp us sons of God.
Rhapsodies | ||