 | Miscellaneous Pieces |  |
8
The Sickly Mind.
Where are the happy moments fled?
Where are the joys that once were mine?
When meditation kindly spread
The sweet repast,
And bade me taste
Of mental food, varieties divine?
Reflection thus enquiring sighs,
But hope with cheerful air replies,
Again those happy moments may be thine:
Meditation ever kind,
Still invites the longing mind;
And see! she spreads her banquet full in view,
Such food the sons of luxury never knew.
Where are the joys that once were mine?
When meditation kindly spread
The sweet repast,
And bade me taste
Of mental food, varieties divine?
Reflection thus enquiring sighs,
But hope with cheerful air replies,
Again those happy moments may be thine:
Meditation ever kind,
Still invites the longing mind;
And see! she spreads her banquet full in view,
Such food the sons of luxury never knew.
Alas! in vain, my heart replies,
In vain her rich varieties
A languid, a distemper'd taste invite!
Gentle hope, thy friendly power
Sooths in vain the mournful hour.
Till thy fair sister come and bless my sight:
She can point a sovereign cure
For disorders of the mind,
Health, vigor, and delight she can ensure
From that blest hand which heal'd the lame and blind.
In vain her rich varieties
A languid, a distemper'd taste invite!
Gentle hope, thy friendly power
Sooths in vain the mournful hour.
9
She can point a sovereign cure
For disorders of the mind,
Health, vigor, and delight she can ensure
From that blest hand which heal'd the lame and blind.
Come radiant faith, and guide my way!
Hope, on thy kind arm I stay,
Lead, O lead me to my Lord!
If he pronounce the healing word,
This mental languor shall depart,
And health and vigor animate my heart.
Hope, on thy kind arm I stay,
Lead, O lead me to my Lord!
If he pronounce the healing word,
This mental languor shall depart,
And health and vigor animate my heart.
Alas! my guide—how dim her eye!
How feeble my supporter's arm!
But he can purge the mist away,
And clear the intellectual ray;
His vital word this fainting heart can warm,
And bid my hope be strong, and teach my faith to fly.
How feeble my supporter's arm!
But he can purge the mist away,
And clear the intellectual ray;
His vital word this fainting heart can warm,
And bid my hope be strong, and teach my faith to fly.
Great Physician, gracious Lord,
Speak the life-restoring word,
My drooping powers renew!
Meditation then shall spread,
Not in vain, the various feast,
All her sweets the mind shall taste,
While still new dainties rise to view;
(With dainties such as her's are angels fed)
Nor can the sacred banquet ever cloy,
Unlike to sensual food, akin to heavenly joy.
Speak the life-restoring word,
My drooping powers renew!
Meditation then shall spread,
Not in vain, the various feast,
All her sweets the mind shall taste,
10
(With dainties such as her's are angels fed)
Nor can the sacred banquet ever cloy,
Unlike to sensual food, akin to heavenly joy.
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