 | Poetical Sketches |  |
33
SONG.
WANDERING in the still of eve,
While songsters homeward cleave the air,
With lively notes my voice I tun'd,
To usher in the ev'ning star;
But straying near a woody brake,
Sweet sounds of melody ascend,
Oft intermix'd with sighs and tears:
Anxious a pitying ear I lend,
As from a vale below thus sad they roll'd:
"Ah! idiot Fortune, why
"Should genius somther'd die
"When fled by base delusive gold?
"When fled by base delusive gold?
While songsters homeward cleave the air,
With lively notes my voice I tun'd,
To usher in the ev'ning star;
But straying near a woody brake,
Sweet sounds of melody ascend,
Oft intermix'd with sighs and tears:
Anxious a pitying ear I lend,
As from a vale below thus sad they roll'd:
"Ah! idiot Fortune, why
"Should genius somther'd die
"When fled by base delusive gold?
"When fled by base delusive gold?
"Wavering in a doubtful state,
"Impell'd by reason and desire,
"Strongly I feel an innate pow'r
"Raising the sparks of youthful fire;
"While warmer fancy, genuine art,
"Urg'd by the touch, break forth to flame;
"But, chill'd by the cold worldling's frown,
"And starv'd by reason, sinks again.
"Bewilder'd now I see the book of fate unfold:
"Ah! idiot Fortune, why
"Should genius smother'd die
"When fled by base delusive gold?
"When fled by base delusive gold?
"Impell'd by reason and desire,
34
"Strongly I feel an innate pow'r
"Raising the sparks of youthful fire;
"While warmer fancy, genuine art,
"Urg'd by the touch, break forth to flame;
"But, chill'd by the cold worldling's frown,
"And starv'd by reason, sinks again.
"Bewilder'd now I see the book of fate unfold:
"Ah! idiot Fortune, why
"Should genius smother'd die
"When fled by base delusive gold?
"When fled by base delusive gold?
"Unerring Pow'r! dare I complain?
"Yet sure mysterious is thy way!
"That the vile dust dug from the earth
"Should rule with such unbounded sway;
"Should smother up the seeds of love,
"And check the emanating fire
"That swells the rip'ning artist's breast,
"And wakes the soul-entrancing lyre!
"Ah! sad disgrace to man's diviner mould!
"For, idiot Fortune! why
"Should genius smother'd die,
"When fled by base delusive gold?
"When fled by base delusive gold?
"Yet sure mysterious is thy way!
"That the vile dust dug from the earth
"Should rule with such unbounded sway;
"Should smother up the seeds of love,
"And check the emanating fire
"That swells the rip'ning artist's breast,
"And wakes the soul-entrancing lyre!
35
"Ah! sad disgrace to man's diviner mould!
"For, idiot Fortune! why
"Should genius smother'd die,
"When fled by base delusive gold?
"When fled by base delusive gold?
"Murmuring thus at partial fate,
"The wretch's comfort I pursue:
"How sweet those plaintive moments pass,
"How tuneful, but alas! how few!
"Courting the Muses, here my lute
"Soft I attune, and hail the sky,
"Reading the traits of heavenly love,
"Aloud I breathe this ardent sigh:
"Ah! when to me will Nature's works unfold?
"Through cruel Fortune, I
"In canker'd rust may die,
"If fled by thee, delsuive gold!
"If fled by thee, delsuive gold!"
"The wretch's comfort I pursue:
"How sweet those plaintive moments pass,
"How tuneful, but alas! how few!
"Courting the Muses, here my lute
"Soft I attune, and hail the sky,
"Reading the traits of heavenly love,
"Aloud I breathe this ardent sigh:
"Ah! when to me will Nature's works unfold?
"Through cruel Fortune, I
"In canker'd rust may die,
"If fled by thee, delsuive gold!
"If fled by thee, delsuive gold!"
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