The dew of the morning Sunk chill on my brow- And share in its shame. They name thee before me, Who knew thee too well- In secret we met In silence I grieve, That thy heart could forget, If I should meet thee After long years, How should I greet thee? With silence and tears. 1808 TO A YOUTHFUL FRIEND. FEW years have past since thou and I Were firmest friends, at least in name, And childhood's gay sincerity Preserved our feelings long the same. And such the change the heart displays, It boots not that, together bred, We learn at length our faults to blend; And those, and those alone, may claim The prostituted name of friend. Such is the common lot of man: Can we then 'scape from folly free? No; for myself, so dark my fate But thou, with spirit frail and light, Alas! whenever folly calls Where parasites and princes meet, (For cherish'd first in royal halis, The welcome vices kindly greet.) Ev'n now thou'rt nightly seen to add One insect to the fluttering crow And still thy trifling heart is glad To join the vain, and court the proud. There dost thou glide from fair to fair, Still simpering on with eager haste, As flies along the gay parterre, That taint the flowers they scarcely taste. But say, what nymph will prize the flame Which seems, as marshy vapours move. To flit along from dame to dame, An ignis-fatuus gleam of love? What friend for thee, howe'er inclined, For friendship every fool may share? In time forbear; amidst the throng No more so idly pass along: Be something, any thing, but-mean. 1808. LINES INSCRIBED UPON A CUP FORMED FROM A SKULL. START not-nor deem my spirit fled: In me behold the only skull, I lived, I lov'd, I quaffed like thee: Better to hold the sparkling grape, Than nurse the earth-worm's slimy brood; The drink of gods, than reptile's food. Where once my wit, perchance, hath shone, Quaff while thou canst: another race, Why no-since through life's little day Newstead Abbey, 1808. 467 WELL! THOU ART HAPPY.* WELL! thou art happy, and I feel Written after he had been invited to dine at the residence of Mary Chaworth the obiect of his early affection ther married to Mr Musters. Thy husband's blest--and 'twill impart I thought my jealous heart would break I kiss'd it, and repress'd my sighs, Mary, adieu! I must away; While thou art blest I'll not repine; My heart would soon again be thine. My heart in all,-save hope,-the same. Yet was I calm: I knew the time My breast would thrill before thy look; We met, and not a nerve was shook. I saw thee gaze upon my face, Yet meet with no confusion there: Away! away! my early dream Remembrance never must awake: November 2, 1808. INSCRIPTION ON THE MONUMENT OF A WHEN some proud son of man returns to earth. When all is done, upon the tomb is seen, Not what he was, but what he should have been ; While man, vain insect! hopes to be forgiven, Who knows thee well must quit thee with disgust, Thy love is lust, thy friendship all a cheat, By nature vile, ennobled but by name, Each kindred brute might bid thee blush for shawe. Newstead Abbey, November 30, 1808 TO A LADY, (MRS MUSTERS.) ON BEING ASKED MY REASON FOR QUITTING ENGLAND IN THE SPRING But, wandering on through distant climes. Just gave a sigh to other times, And found in busier scenes relief. Thus, lady! will it be with me, And I must view thy charms no more; For, while I linger near to thee, I sigh for all I knew before. In flight I shall be surely wise, Escaping from temptation's snare ; I cannot view my paradise Without a wish to enter there. December 2, 1808. REMIND ME NOT, REMIND ME NOT, REMIND me not, remind me not, Of those beloved, those vanish'd hours, Hours that may never be forgot, Can I forget-canst thou forget, How quick thy fluttering heart did move? |