4. The better days of life were ours; The worst can be but mine: The sun that cheers, the storm that lowers, Shall never more be thine. The silence of that dreamless sleep Ι envy now too much to weep; Nor need I to repine That all those charms have pass'd away : I might have watch'd through long decay. 5. The flower in ripen'd bloom unmatch'd Though by no hand untimely snatch'd, And yet it were a greater grief To watch it withering, leaf by leaf, Than see it pluck'd to-day; Since earthly eye but ill can bear To trace the change to foul from fair. 6. I know not if I could have borne To see thy beauties fade; The night that follow'd such a morn Thy day without a cloud hath past, As stars that shoot along the sky Shine brightest as they fall from high. 7. As once I wept, if I could weep, To gaze-how fondly! on thy face, To fold thee in a faint embrace, Uphold thy drooping head; And show that love, however vain, Nor thou nor I can feel again. 8. Yet how much less it were to gain, Though thou hast left me free, The loveliest things that still remain, The all of thine that cannot die Through dark and dread Eternity And more thy buried love endears XVII. STANZAS. 1. IF sometimes in the haunts of men, Thine image from my breast may fade, The lonely hour presents again The semblance of thy gentle shade: And now that sad and silent hour Thus much of thee can still restore, And sorrow unobserv'd may pour 1. The plaint she dare not speak before. 2. Oh, pardon that in crowds awhile, Nor deem that memory less dear, I would not fools should overhear One sigh that should be wholly thine. 3. If not the Goblet pass unquaff'd, And could Oblivion set my soul From all her troubled visions free, I'd dash to earth the sweetest bowl That drown'd a single thought of thee. 4. For wert thou vanish'd from my mind, No, No-it is my sorrow's pride "Tis meet that I remember still. 5. For well I know, that such had been Thou wert too like a dream of Heaven, For earthly Love to merit thee. March 14th, 1812. |