 | Poems by Bernard Barton |  |
190
TO--- ---.
Our friendship, Arthur, was not form'd,
As some have been, in boyhood's heat,
When feelings may be chill'd or warm'd
By any specious counterfeit.
As some have been, in boyhood's heat,
When feelings may be chill'd or warm'd
By any specious counterfeit.
We met not until both had past
The inexperienc'd flush of youth;
And learnt, as all may do, at last,
The worth of confidence and truth.
The inexperienc'd flush of youth;
And learnt, as all may do, at last,
The worth of confidence and truth.
We ask'd no pledge, nor aught profess'd;
Each knew he had no selfish ends;
And time, the most unerring test
Of every tie, has made us friends.
Each knew he had no selfish ends;
And time, the most unerring test
Of every tie, has made us friends.
Long may we be so! One event,
Which friendship views with jealous eye,
(Sometimes from selfish discontent)
Has but the more endear'd our tie.
Which friendship views with jealous eye,
(Sometimes from selfish discontent)
Has but the more endear'd our tie.
191
How should it have been otherwise?
No groundless hopes my bosom warm'd;
A heart, whose love thy own would prize,
I well might guess for friendship form'd.
No groundless hopes my bosom warm'd;
A heart, whose love thy own would prize,
I well might guess for friendship form'd.
And I have liv'd to see thee prove
The purest joys that life can lend;
Yet never found thee made by love
Less worthy of the name of friend.
The purest joys that life can lend;
Yet never found thee made by love
Less worthy of the name of friend.
Farewell! I give no thanks to thee,
Or thine; though surely few would doubt them,
And some might look for them; but we
Will do, as we have done, without them.
Or thine; though surely few would doubt them,
And some might look for them; but we
Will do, as we have done, without them.
| Poems by Bernard Barton | |