 | The Poems of Robert Fergusson |  |
ODE TO HOPE.
Hope! lively chearer of the mind,
In lieu of real bliss design'd,
Come from thy ever verdant bow'r
To chace the dull and ling'ring hour;
O! bring, attending on thy reign,
All thy ideal fairy train,
To animate the lifeless clay,
And bear my sorrows hence away.
In lieu of real bliss design'd,
Come from thy ever verdant bow'r
To chace the dull and ling'ring hour;
O! bring, attending on thy reign,
All thy ideal fairy train,
To animate the lifeless clay,
And bear my sorrows hence away.
Hence gloomy featur'd black despair,
With all thy frantic furies fly,
Nor rend my breast with gnawing care,
For hope in lively garb is nigh;
With all thy frantic furies fly,
Nor rend my breast with gnawing care,
For hope in lively garb is nigh;
Let pining discontentment mourn,
Let dull ey'd melancholy grieve,
Since pleasing Hope must reign by turn,
And every bitter thought relieve.
Let dull ey'd melancholy grieve,
Since pleasing Hope must reign by turn,
And every bitter thought relieve.
O smiling Hope! in adverse hour,
I feel thy influencing power:
Though frowning Fortune fix my lot,
In some defenceless lonely cot,
Where poverty, with empty hands,
In pallid meagre aspect stands;
Thou can'st enrobe me, 'midst the great,
With all the crimson pomp of state,
Where luxury invites his guests
To pall them with his lavish feasts:
What cave so dark, what gloom so drear,
So black with horror, dead with fear!
But thou can'st dart thy streaming ray,
And change closs night to open day.
I feel thy influencing power:
Though frowning Fortune fix my lot,
In some defenceless lonely cot,
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In pallid meagre aspect stands;
Thou can'st enrobe me, 'midst the great,
With all the crimson pomp of state,
Where luxury invites his guests
To pall them with his lavish feasts:
What cave so dark, what gloom so drear,
So black with horror, dead with fear!
But thou can'st dart thy streaming ray,
And change closs night to open day.
Health is attendant in thy radiant train,
Round her the whisp'ring zephyrs gently play,
Behold her gladly tripping o'er the plain,
Bedeck'd with rural sweets and garlands gay.
Round her the whisp'ring zephyrs gently play,
Behold her gladly tripping o'er the plain,
Bedeck'd with rural sweets and garlands gay.
When vital spirits are depress'd,
And heavy languor cloggs the breast,
Comforting Hope! 'tis thine to cure,
Devoid of Esculapian power;
For oft thy friendly aid avails,
When all the strength of physic fails.
And heavy languor cloggs the breast,
Comforting Hope! 'tis thine to cure,
Devoid of Esculapian power;
For oft thy friendly aid avails,
When all the strength of physic fails.
Nay, even though death should aim his dart,
I know he lifts his arm in vain,
Since thou this lesson can'st impart,
Mankind but die to live again.
I know he lifts his arm in vain,
Since thou this lesson can'st impart,
Mankind but die to live again.
Depriv'd of thee must banners fall;
But where a living Hope is found,
The legions shout at danger's call,
And victors are triumphant crown'd.
But where a living Hope is found,
The legions shout at danger's call,
And victors are triumphant crown'd.
Come then, bright Hope! in smiles array'd,
Revive us by thy quick'ning breath,
Then shall we never be afraid
To walk thro' danger, and thro' death.
Revive us by thy quick'ning breath,
Then shall we never be afraid
To walk thro' danger, and thro' death.
| The Poems of Robert Fergusson | |