 | Judith, Esther, and other poems |  |
TO --- ---
When thou my plighted friendship took
And my heart caught and treasured thine—
Ev'n then, I could not, dared not look
For faith but half so true as mine.
And my heart caught and treasured thine—
Ev'n then, I could not, dared not look
For faith but half so true as mine.
I knew it but a lovely mist
Which the first breath might waft away,
Yet would I not the charm resist,
But fondly knelt and wooed its stay.
Which the first breath might waft away,
Yet would I not the charm resist,
But fondly knelt and wooed its stay.
35
Oh! who can scorn the glowing rose
Because tomorrow morn she falls?
Or fair Affection's portals close,
Though all may soon forsake her halls?
Because tomorrow morn she falls?
Or fair Affection's portals close,
Though all may soon forsake her halls?
The tears that fall for pleasures flown,
Draw many a sweet from memory's store;
But sighs from bosoms ever lone
Like a cold cavern's vapours pour.
Draw many a sweet from memory's store;
But sighs from bosoms ever lone
Like a cold cavern's vapours pour.
I never hoped that thou for me
Wouldst tempt but half I'd freely dare,
Did pain or peril threaten thee,
To snatch and shield thee from despair.
Wouldst tempt but half I'd freely dare,
Did pain or peril threaten thee,
To snatch and shield thee from despair.
But thy thoughts, words, and deeds, are kind,
My soul can clasp thine image yet—
Oh! one with mine as closely twined,
I may not meet—I never met.
My soul can clasp thine image yet—
Oh! one with mine as closely twined,
I may not meet—I never met.
Yet, for awhile, 'tis sweet to hush
The truths that chill experience shows,
While o'er the heart the trickling gush
Of balmy rapture softly flows.
The truths that chill experience shows,
While o'er the heart the trickling gush
Of balmy rapture softly flows.
Ev'n friendship's but the bubble crown,
The blue wave wears when day-songs ring,
But oh! Reflection, lay thee down,
Nor tear one moment's tender wing.
The blue wave wears when day-songs ring,
But oh! Reflection, lay thee down,
Nor tear one moment's tender wing.
| Judith, Esther, and other poems | |