Farewell to thee, France! - but when Liberty rallies bound us, Then turn thee and call on the Chief of thy choice. WRITTEN ON A BLANK LEAF OF "THE PLEASURES OF MEMORY." ABSENT or present, still to thee, My friend, what magic spells belong! As all can tell, who share like me, In turn thy converse, and thy song. How fondly will she then repay Thy homage offered at her shrine, Her name immortally with thine! STANZAS. CHILL and mirk is the nightly blast, Our guides are gone, our hope is lost, But show where rocks our path have crost, Is yon a cot I saw, though low? When lightning broke the gloom How welcome were its shade! — ah, no! "Tis but a Turkish tomb. Through sounds of foaming waterfalls, I hear a voice exclaim My way-worn countryman, who calls A shot is fired-by foe or friend? The mountain peasants to descend, Oh! who in such a night will dare And who 'mid thunder peals can hear And who that heard our shouts would rise To try the dubious road? Nor rather deem from nightly cries That outlaws were abroad. Clouds burst, skies flash, oh, dreadful hour! Yet here one thought has still the power While wandering through each broken path, Sweet Florence, where art thou? Not on the sea, not on the sea, Full swiftly blew the swift Siroc, And long ere now, with foaming shock, Now thou art safe; nay, long ere now And since I now remember thee Do thou amidst the fair white walls, At times from out her latticed halls Then think upon Calypso's isles, And when the admiring circle mark A half-formed tear, a transient spark Again thou 'lt smile, and blushing shun Some coxcomb's raillery; Nor own for once thou thought'st of one, Who ever thinks on thee. Though smile and sigh alike are vain, My spirit flies o'er mount and main, A SKETCH. BORN in the garret, in the kitchen bred, - but that high Soul secured the heart, And panted for the truth it could not hear, With longing breast and undeluded ear. Which Flattery fooled not-Baseness could not blind, Deceit infect not Indulgence weaken nor Contagion soil — nor Example spoil Nor mastered Science tempt her to look down On humbler talents with a pitying frown — |