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The Hope of the World and other poems

by Charles Mackay
Mackay, Charles (1814-1889)

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[section]
  
[dedication]
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THE HOPE OF THE WORLD.
 I. 
CANTO I.
 II. 
CANTO II.
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NIENTE SENZA L'AMORE.
 I. 
PART I. THE PRAYER OF ADAM, ALONE IN PARADISE.
 II. 
PART II. THE DREAM OF THE SHIPWRECKED MARINER.
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SACRED MELODIES.
 I. 
I. “AND GOD SAID, LET THERE BE LIGHT!”
 II. 
II. WEEPING FOR THE DEAD.
 III. 
III. THE DOVE OF NOAH.
 IV. 
IV. REPENTANCE.
 V. 
V. RESIGNATION.
 VI. 
VI. MARINERS' PRAYER,
 VIII. 
VIII. SAUL AND DAVID.
 IX. 
IX. OUR SAVIOUR'S LAMENTATION OVER JERUSALEM.
 X. 
X. GOD IN THE STORM.
 XI. 
XI. THE INFINITUDE OF MERCY.
 XII. 
XII. THE BOW OF PROMISE.
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REVERIES.
  
TO THE WINDS.
  
THE SEA-SHORE.
  
THE NYMPH OF SOLITUDE.
  
THE WOOD-NYMPH.
  
TO AN EAGLE.
  
NIGHT.
  
THE LARK.
  
THE AUTUMN LEAF.
  
TO ROMANCE.
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SONGS FOR MUSIC.
  
SONG TO THE HARVEST MOON.
  
AMERICAN INDIANS AT THE GRAVES OF THEIR FATHERS.
  
THE ISLE OF TRUTH.
  
THE LAY OF AN EXILE.
  
FAR FROM HOME.
  
THIRTEEN AT TABLE; A VISION OF DEATH.
  
CONSTANCY.
  
THE EMIGRANTS' FAREWELL TO ENGLAND.
  
THE SCOTTISH EMIGRANTS' FAREWELL TO YARROW.
  
LOVE AMID SORROW.
  
THE WIDOWER TO THE EVENING STAR.
  
MOUNTAIN DEW.
  
SEA SORROW;
  
A SONG FOR A STORMY NIGHT.
  
THE TRUE GENTLEMAN.
  
THE GREENWOOD TREE.
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BALLADS.
  
THE WISHING-GATE.
  
THE MAIDEN OF RHINE.
  
THE COUNTRY GENTLEMAN ABROAD.
  
LORENZO.
  
THE TWO VULTURES.
  
THE PILGRIM'S DOG.
  
COUNT CASK-O'-WHISKEY AND HIS THREE HOUSES.

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113

TO ROMANCE.

Sweet deceiver! who so oft
Hast lull'd my soul with visions soft;
When the heart is new and young,
Thou dost come with honey'd tongue,
Whispering to confiding youth
Tales of Friendship, Love, and Truth:
In thy mirror, life is seen
Bright and pure, and ever green!—
Alas! and must thy visions fade?
Thy brightness darken into shade?—
The clear, but cold reality
Breathes upon thy reverie—
Straight thy fairy visions fly,
Their gorgeous hues grow pale and die;
We find that in Misfortune's day
Friendship can wither or betray;
114

We find that dirty gold can buy
The glance of love in Beauty's eye;
That sordid wealth can cover crime,
That merit stoops while blockheads climb!
Romance! thy fairy spell is o'er,
Thy lovely visions charm no more;
Too often by thy wiles betray'd,
I'll woo no more thy gentle aid;—
Yet why?—'Tis pleasing to believe—
Thy dreams are sweet, though they deceive.
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