75
Once more forgive the mournful song
That flows from sorrow sad and long,
But fain would yield to friendship's claim
A tribute to its sacred name,—
Would dwell upon the pleasing theme,
When virtue glows with gentlest beam,
And sweet affection's power benign
Expands that generous breast of thine.
But sorrow checks the pleasing thrill,
Blending affliction's deadliest ill,—
And boding guides my thoughts afar
To misery's night without a star.
But still may friendship's cheering sound
Oft soothe the rankling, cureless wound;
And oft the midnight thought will rove
On virtues that it still must love;—
Where innocence and truth combined
Adorn the treasures of the mind,
Where sympathy's sweet voice relieves
The aching heart that silent grieves.
I view the beauteous, blooming maid
As when 'mid flowery scenes she strayed.
Where the fair lily and the rose
Their beauty and their sweets disclose;
Which her own blooming aspect wears,
With loveliness more dear than theirs,—
And sweetly smiled in artless ease,
Brightest of blooming gayeties.
But beauty's charms on me no more
Exert their soul-enlivening power;
That flows from sorrow sad and long,
But fain would yield to friendship's claim
A tribute to its sacred name,—
Would dwell upon the pleasing theme,
When virtue glows with gentlest beam,
And sweet affection's power benign
Expands that generous breast of thine.
But sorrow checks the pleasing thrill,
Blending affliction's deadliest ill,—
And boding guides my thoughts afar
To misery's night without a star.
But still may friendship's cheering sound
Oft soothe the rankling, cureless wound;
And oft the midnight thought will rove
On virtues that it still must love;—
Where innocence and truth combined
Adorn the treasures of the mind,
Where sympathy's sweet voice relieves
The aching heart that silent grieves.
I view the beauteous, blooming maid
As when 'mid flowery scenes she strayed.
Where the fair lily and the rose
Their beauty and their sweets disclose;
Which her own blooming aspect wears,
With loveliness more dear than theirs,—
And sweetly smiled in artless ease,
Brightest of blooming gayeties.
But beauty's charms on me no more
Exert their soul-enlivening power;
