Poems, on sacred and other subjects and songs, humorous and sentimental: By the late William Watt. Third edition of the songs only--with additional songs |
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Ode to Friendship.
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 | Poems, on sacred and other subjects |  |
Ode to Friendship.
O blessed magnet of the soul,
Source of earth's most ecstatic joy,
From thee throughout the mind do roll
Those pleasures which can never cloy!
The treasures of Peruvian mines
May charm the miser's eye,
But round the heart thy hand entwines
A band of surer tie.
Returning, and burning
With still increasing light,
To soothe here, and smooth here
Life's rough oppressive weight.
Source of earth's most ecstatic joy,
From thee throughout the mind do roll
Those pleasures which can never cloy!
The treasures of Peruvian mines
May charm the miser's eye,
But round the heart thy hand entwines
A band of surer tie.
Returning, and burning
With still increasing light,
To soothe here, and smooth here
Life's rough oppressive weight.
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Sequester'd from the busy world,
The poring philosophic sage,
From social intercourse self-hurl'd,
With thee unheeded war doth wage.
Vague compensation for a friend
Is scientific skill;
The brow of care it can't unbend,
But knits it closer still.
Thy pleasure, past measure,
Haunts not his drear abode,
To cheer him, and bear him
Along the rugged road.
The poring philosophic sage,
From social intercourse self-hurl'd,
With thee unheeded war doth wage.
Vague compensation for a friend
Is scientific skill;
The brow of care it can't unbend,
But knits it closer still.
Thy pleasure, past measure,
Haunts not his drear abode,
To cheer him, and bear him
Along the rugged road.
How joyously his moments float,
While sailing down the tide of time,
Who feels the mystic guardian knot
Him hold in pleasure's maze sublime.
To lend the charm of mirth in health,
Of succour in distress,
To man, is earth's most precious wealth,
His truest happiness.
He needs not, he heeds not
Imperial power and fame;
Their grandeur and splendour
His notice never claim.
While sailing down the tide of time,
Who feels the mystic guardian knot
Him hold in pleasure's maze sublime.
To lend the charm of mirth in health,
Of succour in distress,
To man, is earth's most precious wealth,
His truest happiness.
He needs not, he heeds not
Imperial power and fame;
Their grandeur and splendour
His notice never claim.
O Thou, who know'st my ev'ry want,
As through this wilderness I stray,
My supplication hear, and grant
This darling boon, for which I pray:
A friend to cheer this mundane scene,
So direly tinged with woe,
Till one arrive, of brighter sheen,
To man unknown below;
Where caring, despairing,
Are objects far remote,
Where joying, uncloying,
Is ev'ry dweller's lot.
As through this wilderness I stray,
My supplication hear, and grant
This darling boon, for which I pray:
A friend to cheer this mundane scene,
So direly tinged with woe,
Till one arrive, of brighter sheen,
To man unknown below;
Where caring, despairing,
Are objects far remote,
Where joying, uncloying,
Is ev'ry dweller's lot.
| Poems, on sacred and other subjects | |