Fugitive Poetry. 1600–1878/Remember Me

Remember Me.

Remember me, when summer friends surround thee, And honeyed flatteries gain thy willing ear;When fame and fortune's glittering wreaths have crowned thee, And all is thine thy fickle heart holds dear:Then think of her whose changeless fortunes blessed thee, When hope was dark, and faithful friends were few,Who, when hard-gripping poverty depressed thee, And all beside seemed cold, was kind and true.

Remember me, in courtly hall and bower; And when thou kneel'st at some fond beauty's shrine,Ask of the past, if through life's varying hour, Its joy and griefs, her love can equal mine!And when thy youthful hopes are most excited, Should she prove false, and break her faith with thee,Think of the hopes thy wayward love hath blighted, And from that lesson learn to feel for me!

Remember me; and oh! when fate hath 'reft thee Of fame and fortune, friends and love, and bliss,Come back to one thou know'st would ne'er have left thee, And still but chide thy falsehood with a kiss!But no, no, no, I feel that life is waning— That what I was I never more can be—That I am fast on that sweet haven gaining, Where there is rest for e'en a wretch like me!

Remember me! thou canst not, sure, refuse me The only boon from thee I've sought, or seek;Soon will the world, with bitter taunt, accuse me, Yet make no blushes on my bloodless cheek!But I would have thee tender to my fame, When I have 'scaped life's dark tumultuous sea;And, howsoe'er unkinder spirits blame, As what thou know'st I was Remember me!