Poems (Gould, 1833)/The Lost Hyacinth
THE LOST HYACINTH.
My hyacinth, my hyacinth
At length has come to light!
And round the stalk and purple buds
The leaves are green and bright!
At length has come to light!
And round the stalk and purple buds
The leaves are green and bright!
Renewed in beauty it has broke
From out the crumbling earth;
And, when I thought it dead and gone,
It has another birth!
From out the crumbling earth;
And, when I thought it dead and gone,
It has another birth!
My hyacinth! my hyacinth!
At last I've found thee out.
Oh! where hast thou been hid so long?
What hast thou been about?
At last I've found thee out.
Oh! where hast thou been hid so long?
What hast thou been about?
'I 've been,' the little hermit said,
'Within my lowly cell;
And joy I've had in quiet there,
That tongue can never tell.
'Within my lowly cell;
And joy I've had in quiet there,
That tongue can never tell.
'In sweet communion with the power
To which alone I trust,
I 've worshipped long at nature's shrine,
Abased below the dust.
To which alone I trust,
I 've worshipped long at nature's shrine,
Abased below the dust.
'This upper world I find a scene
Of peril, change and strife.
And from seclusion I must draw
My sweetest draught of life.
Of peril, change and strife.
And from seclusion I must draw
My sweetest draught of life.
'I would not live, if ever thus,
Uncovered to the glare
Of yonder sun, I must be brushed
By ev'ry vagrant air.
Uncovered to the glare
Of yonder sun, I must be brushed
By ev'ry vagrant air.
' 'T is best for me, and best for thee
That I should pass from sight,
To be a while in loneliness,
And hidden from the light.
That I should pass from sight,
To be a while in loneliness,
And hidden from the light.
'For I should lose my greatest worth
By being always here;
Thou would'st not feel the joy thou hast
To see me re-appear.
By being always here;
Thou would'st not feel the joy thou hast
To see me re-appear.
'From calm and humble solitude
My first attractions flow,
And, but for these, I were but poor,
Without a charm to show.
My first attractions flow,
And, but for these, I were but poor,
Without a charm to show.
'But I've come back to stand awhile
In beauty to thine eye;
And when my flowers have gladdened thee,
They 'll be content to die.
In beauty to thine eye;
And when my flowers have gladdened thee,
They 'll be content to die.
'And, while thy hyacinth her sweets
Shall pour from every bell,
Remember she her fragrance gained
Within the lowly cell!'
Shall pour from every bell,
Remember she her fragrance gained
Within the lowly cell!'