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University of Virginia Library

Metrical essays

on subjects of history and imagination. By Charles Swain

Swain, Charles (1801-1874)

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ALEXANDER THE GREAT.

PAULUS ÆMILIUS.

KING RICHARD III. AND HIS SON.

INEZ DE CASTRO.

CONSTANCE DE CEZELLI.

LINES WRITTEN BY THE SEA SHORE.

STANZAS FOR MUSIC.

STANZAS TO A LADY.

LAST WORDS OF AN EXILE.

A LOVER'S LAST SONG.

LADY JANE GRAY.

A MONARCH'S LAMENT FOR THE DEATH OF HIS SON.

THE DEATH OF OTHO.

ODE TO SOLITUDE.

MEMORY.

WOMAN'S AFFECTION.

ODE TO IMAGINATION.

AN EXILE'S SONG.

DI TANTI PALPITI.

ALLEGORICAL STANZAS.

THE PEASANT GIRL'S SONG.

STANZAS FOR MUSIC.

STANZAS FOR MUSIC.

LE POUR ET LE CONTRE.

STANZAS TO A LADY.

STANZAS FOR MUSIC.

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THE VOICE OF NATURE.

THE OLD MARINER.

WRITTEN ON MY MOTHER'S GRAVE.

THE VILLAGE CHURCH.

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99

MEMORY.

What is Memory? 'tis the light
Which hallows life—a ray profound
Upon the brow of mental night;
An echo—time the passing sound;—
A mirror—its bright surface shows
Hope, fear, grief, love, delight, regret:
A generous spring; a beam which glows
Long after sun and star have set:
A leaf—nor storm, nor blight can fade—
An ark on Time's bereaving sea—
A perfume from a flower decayed—
A treasure for Eternity!—

We are taught by the Scriptures to believe, that after death we shall still retain the memory of our past earthly transactions, if these have been worthy and honourable memory may then prove to be a treasure to eternity!