For misery stole me at my birth, Take home thy child! On thy dear lap these limbs reclined, Resembling me. Hark! a strange sound affrights mine ear; The GRAVE, that never spake before, Be silent, Pride! Art thou a WRETCH of hope forlorn, By fell despair? Do foul misdeeds of former times Wring with remorse thy guilty breast? Murder thy rest? Lash'd by the furies of the mind, From wrath and vengeance would'st thou flee? Ah! think not, hope not, fool, to find A friend in me: By all the terrors of the tomb,— "I charge thee LIVE! repent and pray, And sin no more. 66 Art thou a WANDERER?—hast thou seen Misfortune's mark? Art thou a MOURNER?-hast thou known And tranquil nights? "O LIVE!—and deeply cherish still The sweet remembrance of the past: Rely on Heaven's unchanging will For peace at last. Though long of winds and waves the sport, "TO FRIENDSHIP didst thou trust thy fame, A surer blow? LIVE!-and repine not o'er his loss, A loss unworthy to be told: Thou hast mistaken sordid dross For friendship's gold. "Seek the true treasure, seldom found, Of power the fiercest griefs to calm ; "Did WOMAN'S charms thy youth beguile,— And did the fair one faithless prove? Hath she betray'd thee with a smile, And sold thy love? "LIVE! 'Twas a false bewildering fire; Thrills the fond soul with wild desire,- M "Thou yet shalt know how sweet, how dear, To gaze on listening Beauty's eye; To ask, and pause in hope and fear "A nobler flame shall warm thy breast,- Whate'er thy lot-whoe'er thou be, The hand of God. "A bruised reed He will not break,Afflictions all his children feel: He wounds them for his mercy's sake,— He wounds to heal. Humbled beneath his mighty hand, 'Tis done! Arise! He bids thee stand, Now, traveller in the vale of tears, To realms of everlasting light, Through Time's dark wilderness of years Pursue thy flight. "There is a calm for those who weep, A rest for weary pilgrims found; "The Soul, of origin divine, GOD's glorious image, freed from clay, A star of day. The SUN is but a spark of fire,- SHALL NEVER DIE!" FRIENDS. FRIEND after friend departs; There is no union here of hearts, Were this frail world our only rest,- Beyond the flight of time, Beyond this vale of death,- There is a world above, Where parting is unknown,- Form'd for the good alone; Thus star by star declines, As morning high and higher shines To pure and perfect day; Nor sink those stars in empty night,— They hide themselves in heaven's own light. HANNAH. Ar fond sixteen my roving heart Was pierced by Love's delightful dart ; Keen transport throbb'd through every vein, I never felt so sweet a pain! Where circling woods embower'd the glade, I met the dear romantic maid; I stole her hand,-it shrunk !—but no ; With all the fervency of youth, Not with a warmer, purer ray, But, swifter than the frighted dove, The angel of affliction rose, Yet, in the glory of my pride, I stood, and all his wrath defied: I stood, though whirlwinds shook my brain, And lightnings cleft my soul in twain. I shunn'd my nymph;-and knew not why I shunn'd her, for I could not bear Yet, sick at heart with hope delay'd, Glanced, like the rainbow, o'er my mind, The storm blew o'er, and in my breast |