Foil'd was perversion by that youthful mind, Which Flattery fool'd not-Baseness could not blind, Nor Fortune change-Pride raise-nor Passion bow, But wanting one sweet weakness—to forgive, But to the theme:–now laid aside too long If like a snake she steal within your walls, And leave the venom there she did not find; To make a Pandemonium where she dwells, While mingling truth with falsehood-sneers with smiles A thread of candour with a web of wiles; Look on the picture! deem it not o'ercharged- Oh! wretch without a tear-without a thought, The widow'd couch of fire, that thou hast spread! Then, when thou fain would'st weary Heaven with prayer, Look on thine earthly victims-and despair! Down to the dust!—and, as thou rott'st away, ΤΟ 1. WHEN all around grew drear and dark, 2. In that deep midnight of the mind, The weak despair-the cold depart; 3. When fortune changed-and love fled far, And hatred's shafts flew thick and fast, Thou wert the solitary star Which rose and set not to the last. 4. Oh! blest be thine unbroken light! 5. And when the cloud upon us came, Which strove to blacken o'er thy ray— Then purer spread its gentle flame, And dash'd the darkness all away. 6. Still may thy spirit dwell on mine, And teach it what to brave or brookThere's more in one soft word of thine, Than in the world's defied rebuke. |