The voice of the one upon earth, who has twined With her essence for ever my heart and my mind! Though lonely and far from the light of her smile, And exile and weary and hopeless the while, Could you shed for a moment that voice on my ear, And kisses my eyelid and sighs on my cheek, Sweet spirit! if such be your magical power, PEACE AND GLORY. WRITTEN AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE PRESENT WAR. WHERE is now the smile that lighten'd Every hero's couch of rest? Where is now the hope that brighten'd Honour's eye and Pity's breast? Have we lost the wreath we braided For our weary warrior men ? Is the faithless olive faded, Must the bay be pluck'd again? Passing hour of sunny weather, Wander'd through the blessed isle. And the eyes of Peace would glisten, Dewy as a morning sun, When the timid maid would listen Is the hour of dalliance over? Must the maiden's trembling feet Waft her from her warlike lover To the desert's still retreat? Fare you well! with sighs we banish Nymph so fair and guest so bright; Yet the smile, with which you vanish, Leaves behind a soothing light! Soothing light! that long shall sparkle O'er your warrior's sanguine way, Through the field where horrors darkle, Long the smile his heart will cherish, To its absent idol true, While around him myriads perish, Glory still will sigh for you! To To be the theme of every hour 1801. The heart devotes to Fancy's power, In the mind's purest seat to dwell, By one whose heart, though vain and wild, If thus to be its sole employ Can give thee one faint gleam of joy, A tongue that never can deceive, And though that heart be dead to mine, The bright, cold burthen of my way! SONG. TAKE back the sigh, thy lips of art Take back the kiss, that faithless sigh Or bloom to make a rival blest! Take back the vows that, night and day, |