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,