Emblem of joys for ever past! See so desolate and lone, The sear-leaf waving in the blast, That loves to linger to the last, Around those sweets for ever gone. Thus the heart with fond heart meeting, Blooms as sweet, as fair and gay; Truth, love, and rapture, wildly beating, Glows with a light as pure, tho' fleeting, As the beam of opening day. But slighted, with unkindness aching, Shed each sweet, each pleasure flown; Yet morning dreams, still fondly waking, Cling round the heart with anguish breaking, And mourn its joys for ever gone. CXVIII. THE SOLDIER'S RETURN. 'Twas in the ev'ning of a wintry day, When safe returning from a long campaign, Allen, o'ertoil'd and weary with the way, Came home to see his Sally once again. His batter'd arms he carelessly threw down, His hair was knotted, and his beard unshorn; And blessings fell in torrents from his tongue. "Am I so alter'd, by this cruel trade, That you, your faithful Allen, have forgot? When this she heard, her wonted colour fled, She ran and sunk upon her Allen's breast, All pale awhile she look'd like one that's dead; He kiss'd, she breath'd, and all her love confess'd. "Oh! my delight, though alter'd as thou art, Reduc'd by honest courage to this strait, Thou art the golden treasure of my heart, My long-lost husband, and my wish'd-for mate.” CXVXIX. OUR YOUTH WILL FADE". AIR-When time who steals our years away. Our youth will fade, as fades the flower, Nor can the bloom, by earthly power, Be e'er again restor❜d. The fairest flower the Florist rears, Beneath the genial ray, Like man, within its bosom bears The seeds of sure decay. Then let us live as those who know, Howe'er the scene may seem, Will fade like passing dream. * This piece was written at the request of a member of the Paisley Club 1818. The flowers that boast the richest hue Too oft no fragrance give; Fit emblem of the gaudy few, But twine for us a modest wreath Then let us live as those who know, CXX. OH! BRIGHT ROSE THE SUN. AIR-Jessie, the flow'r o' Dumblane. Oh! bright rose the sun on the beautiful ocean, The sails were all swell'd with the breeze of the morning, Afar on the billows the vessel was heaving, The dark rocky shore scarcely seen from the mast, While stretch'd on a cliff gentle Ella lay grieving, And mournfully sigh'd to the waves that roll'd past. Ah! when will my William, from danger returning, Display his dear flag o'er this wave beaten shore, Ah! when will he hush all my sighing and mourning, Saying, sweetly; "My Ella, be anxious no more." When far in th' horizon a white speck appearing, With fondest endearment dispell'd all her fear, "Never more will I leave thee, sweet Ella, my dear!” |