ON SEEING AT A CONCERT THE PUBLIC PERFORMANCE OF A FEMALE DWAREF.
Helpless, unprotected, weary,
Tossed upon the world's wide sea,
Borne from those I love most dearly,
Say—dost thou not feel for me?
Tossed upon the world's wide sea,
Borne from those I love most dearly,
Say—dost thou not feel for me?
Who that hath shrunk 'neath Nature's frown,
Would court false fortune's fickle smile?
O, who would wander thus alone,
Reckless alike of care or toil?
Would court false fortune's fickle smile?
O, who would wander thus alone,
Reckless alike of care or toil?
Who would, for fading pleasure, brave
The sea of troubles, dark and deep?
For lo! the gems which deck the wave
Vanish, and "leave the wretch to weep."
The sea of troubles, dark and deep?
For lo! the gems which deck the wave
Vanish, and "leave the wretch to weep."
'Twas not for fortune's smile of light,
Which beams but to destroy forever;
'Twas not for pleasure's bubbles bright,
Which dazzle still, deluding ever:
Which beams but to destroy forever;
'Twas not for pleasure's bubbles bright,
Which dazzle still, deluding ever:
Oft have I faltered when alone
Before the crowd I sung my lay;
But ah, a father's feeble moan
Rung in my ears, I dared not stay.
Before the crowd I sung my lay;
But ah, a father's feeble moan
Rung in my ears, I dared not stay.
