 | Metrical Effusions |  |
161
STANZAS TO A FRIEND.
“Friendship! mysterious cement of the soul;
Sweetner of life, and solder of society,
I owe thee much”------
Blair.
Sweetner of life, and solder of society,
I owe thee much”------
Blair.
Mary! could any lay of mine
The deathless meed of fame award,
In praise of friendship such as thine,
The favouring nine should aid the bard.
The deathless meed of fame award,
In praise of friendship such as thine,
The favouring nine should aid the bard.
For thee, and for the much lov'd friend
With whom thy fate is link'd on earth,
The grateful prayer shall long ascend
From one who deeply feels your worth.
With whom thy fate is link'd on earth,
The grateful prayer shall long ascend
From one who deeply feels your worth.
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In all your hopes, in all your joys,
A brother's interest I must feel,
Nor less regret when aught annoys
Your peace, or mars your earthly weal.
A brother's interest I must feel,
Nor less regret when aught annoys
Your peace, or mars your earthly weal.
With you in summer's smiling eve,
I've rov'd through meads and vallies far,
Have seen bright Phoebus take his leave,
While sweetly rose the evening star.
I've rov'd through meads and vallies far,
Have seen bright Phoebus take his leave,
While sweetly rose the evening star.
On Deben's banks, or through that wood
Which half conceals yon tower so grey,
We've stray'd, while in the chrystal flood
Reflected shone each leafy spray.
Which half conceals yon tower so grey,
We've stray'd, while in the chrystal flood
Reflected shone each leafy spray.
How sweet at such an hour would seem
Each sound which met the listening ear,
The seaman's voice, or on the stream
The dashing oars approaching near:
Each sound which met the listening ear,
The seaman's voice, or on the stream
The dashing oars approaching near:
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Of distant flocks the plaintive bleat
Soft rising from the opposing shore;
Of martial sounds the cadence sweet,
Proclaiming day's departing hour.
Soft rising from the opposing shore;
Of martial sounds the cadence sweet,
Proclaiming day's departing hour.
Nor have our pleasures been confin'd
To summer's eve, or spring's gay bloom,
We've shar'd in autumn's bounty kind,
And brighten'd winter's sullen gloom.
To summer's eve, or spring's gay bloom,
We've shar'd in autumn's bounty kind,
And brighten'd winter's sullen gloom.
Winter, whose ruthless hand arrays
Fair nature's charms in tragic stole,
But fans celestial friendship's blaze,
Expands with social bliss the soul.
Fair nature's charms in tragic stole,
But fans celestial friendship's blaze,
Expands with social bliss the soul.
From Deben's banks, where erst we stray'd
And listen'd to the bleating fold;
From hills where furze or broom display'd
Their blossom'd pride in veins of gold:
And listen'd to the bleating fold;
From hills where furze or broom display'd
Their blossom'd pride in veins of gold:
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From verdant mead, from shady lane,
Which charm'd erewhile, we now retire;
Still dearest joys for us remain
Assembled round the cheerful fire.
Which charm'd erewhile, we now retire;
Still dearest joys for us remain
Assembled round the cheerful fire.
How oft, when wintry winds howl'd wild,
The poet's or the historian's page,
The lingering evening hath beguil'd,
And baffled all the tempest's rage.
The poet's or the historian's page,
The lingering evening hath beguil'd,
And baffled all the tempest's rage.
Thus, Mary, many an hour hath flown
Since Hymen's spell first fix'd thee here;
Bright was the planet sure which shone
On him to whom thou'rt justly dear.
Since Hymen's spell first fix'd thee here;
Bright was the planet sure which shone
On him to whom thou'rt justly dear.
Nor be that gentle maid forgot
To whom, inspir'd by friendship's flame,
I gave, though nature own'd it not,
In playful mood a sister's name.
To whom, inspir'd by friendship's flame,
I gave, though nature own'd it not,
In playful mood a sister's name.
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She will not, by reserve estrang'd,
The tie fraternal reprehend;
Time hath the name of stranger chang'd
To that of brother or of friend.
The tie fraternal reprehend;
Time hath the name of stranger chang'd
To that of brother or of friend.
And though, when spring again shall bloom,
The friends, for whom I tune my lyre,
Must leave the bard in deepest gloom,
And far from Deben's banks retire;
The friends, for whom I tune my lyre,
Must leave the bard in deepest gloom,
And far from Deben's banks retire;
Yet still shall friendship love to dwell
On golden hours not spent in vain,
And flattering hope shall kindly tell
How gladly we shall meet again.
On golden hours not spent in vain,
And flattering hope shall kindly tell
How gladly we shall meet again.
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