With woe I nightly vigils keep, II. I joyless view thy rays adorn III. No idly-feign'd poetic pains, My sad, love-lorn lamentings claim; IV. Encircled in her clasping arms, How have the raptur'd moments flown! How have I wish'd for fortune's charms, For her dear sake, and her's alone! And must I think it! is she gone, My secret heart's exulting boast? And does she heedless hear my groan? And is she ever, ever lost? V. Oh! can she bear so base a heart, As from the fondest lover part, Alas! life's path may be unsmooth! Her way may lie thro' rough distress ! Then, who her pangs and pains will soothe, Her sorrows share, and make them less? VI. Ye winged hours that o'er us past, My fondly-treasur'd thoughts employ'd. VII. The morn that warns th' approaching day, That I must suffer, lingering, slow. VIII. And when my nightly couch I try, Reigns haggard-wild, in sore affright: From such a horror-breathing night. IX. O! thou bright queen, who o'er th' expanse, Now highest reign'st, with boundless sway! Oft has thy silent-marking glance Observ'à us fondly-wand'ring, stray! The time, unheeded, sped away, While love's luxurious pulse beat high, Beneath thy silver-gleaming ray To mark the mutual kindling eye. Oh! scenes in strong remembrance set! Again I feel, again I burn! DESPONDENCY. AN ODE. I. Oppress'd with grief, oppress'd with care, A burden more than I can bear, Too justly I may fear! Still caring, despairing, Must be my bitter doom; My woes here shall close ne'er, II. Happy, ye sons of busy life, Who, equal to the bustling strife, 56519B No other view regard! Ev'n when the wished end's deny'd, III. How blest the solitary's lot, Who, all-forgetting, all-forgot, Within his humble cell, The cavern wild with tangling root, Or, haply, to his ev'ning thought, While praising, and raising His thoughts to heav'n on high, As wand'ring, meand'ring, He views the solemn sky. IV. Than I, no lonely hermit plac'd And just to stop, and just to move, But ah! those pleasures, loves, and joys, Which I too keenly taste, The solitary can despise, Can want, and yet be blest! He needs not, he heeds not, V. Oh! enviable, early days, When dancing thoughtless pleasure's maze, How ill exchang'd for riper times, Ye tiny elves, that guiltless sport, That active man engage ! WINTER. A DIRGE. I. The wintry west extends his blast, And hail and rain does blaw; The blinding sleet and snaw: While tumbling brown, the burn comes down, And roars frae bank to brae; And bird and beast in covert rest And pass the heartless day. II. "The sweeping blast, the sky o'ercast*," The joyless winter-day, Let others fear, to me more dear Than all the pride of May: The tempest's howl, it sooths my soul, My griefs it seems to join, The leafless trees my fancy please, Their fate resembles mine! * Dr. Young. |