Poetical Trifles :: :: University of Virginia Library

Oh! sweet to feel the gush of sadness
Swell from the breast that softly heaves;
Oh! sweet to sound the peals of gladness,
Whene'er the cup of joy relieves.

Oh! sweet to hear the voice of mildness
Becalming kind the ruffled heart;
Oh! sweet to curb those bursts of wildness,
That through the maniac bosom start.

Nought in the human trait so pleasing,
Charms the frantic thought to rest;
As dew-eyed Sympathy appeasing
The phrensies in the sad imprest.

Mark! yon pale wretch, in madness striving
To dash his iron fetters back;
With slender hands, his jet locks writhing,
What horrid pangs his soul must rack!

His tatter'd garments quick proclaiming
What savage demon heats his blood:
Ah! see him now, his body maiming,
While flows around the welt'ring flood.

But should thy soul, of pity's moulding,
Appear to feel his gashing pains;
Then, all the madman seems witholding,
And drooping hangs his clinking chains.

The staring eye with wild fire flashing,
Is fix'd to view the tears that still:
No longer now, the fetters clashing,
His cell with jarring clamour fill.

The stormy feelings are composing,
As oft he hears the genial sigh;
Till quell'd at last, he sinks reposing,
And fondly hopes that freedom's nigh.

Then, sweet to see the heart of feeling
So gently throb for alien woe;
Oh! sweet to see the tear o'erstealing
Cheeks that with compassion glow.