TheLament
thelament
occasionedbytheunfortunateissueofafriend'samour.
alas!howoftdoesgoodnesswoulditself,
andsweetaffectionprovethespringofwoe!
home.
othoupaleorbthatsilentshines
whilecare-untroubledmortalssleep!
thouseestawretchwhoinlypines.
andwandersheretowailandweep!
withwoeinightlyvigilskeep,
beneaththywan,unwarmingbeam;
andmourn,inlamentationdeep,
howlifeandlovearealladream!
ijoylessviewthyraysadorn
thefaintly-marked,distanthill;
ijoylessviewthytremblinghorn,
reflectedinthegurglingrill:
myfondly-flutteringheart,bestill!
thoubusypow'r,remembrance,cease!
ah!musttheagonizingthrill
foreverbarreturningpeace!
noidly-feign'd,poeticpains,
mysad,love-lornlamentingsclaim:
noshepherd'spipe-arcadianstrains;
nofabledtortures,quaintandtame.
theplightedfaith,themutualflame,
theoft-attestedpow'rsabove,
thepromis'dfather'stendername;
thesewerethepledgesofmylove!
encircledinherclaspingarms,
howhavetheraptur'dmomentsflown!
howhaveiwish'dforfortune'scharms,
forherdearsake,andher'salone!
and,mustithinkit!isshegone,
mysecretheart'sexultingboast?
anddoessheheedlesshearmygroan?
andissheever,everlost?
oh!canshebearsobaseaheart,
solosttohonour,losttotruth,
asfromthefondestloverpart,
theplightedhusbandofheryouth?
alas!life'spathmaybeunsmooth!
herwaymayliethro'roughdistress!
then,whoherpangsandpainswillsoothe
hersorrowsshare,andmakethemless?
yewingedhoursthato'eruspass'd,
enraptur'dmore,themoreenjoy'd,
yourdearremembranceinmybreast
myfondly-treasur'dthoughtsemploy'd:
thatbreast,howdrearynow,andvoid,