Ye scenes of my childhood, whose lov'd recollection,
Embitters the present, compar'd with the past;
Where science first dawn'd on the powers of reflection,
And friendships were form'd, too romantic to last.

2.

Where fancy yet joys, to retrace the resemblance,
Of comrades in friendship, and mischief allied;
How welcome once more your ne'er fading remembrance,
Which rests in the bosom, though hope is deny'd.

3.

Again I revisit the hills where we sported,
The streams where we swam, and the fields where we fought;
The school where loud warn'd by the bell we resorted,
To pore o'er the precepts by Pedagogues taught.

4.

Again I behold where for hours I have ponder'd,
As reclining at eve on yon tombstone I lay;
Or round the steep brow of the churchyard I wander'd,
To catch the last gleam of the sun's setting ray.

5.

I once more view the room with spectators surrounded,
Where as Zanga I trod on Alonzo o'erthrown;
While to swell my young pride such applauses resounded,
I fancied that MOSSOP himself was outshone.

6.

Or as Lear I pour'd for the deep imprecation,
By my daughters of kingdom and reason depriv'd:
Till fir'd by loud plaudits, and self adulation,
I consider'd myself as a Garrick reviv'd.

7.

Ye dreams of my boyhood how much I regret you,
As your memory beams through this agoniz'd breast,
Thus sad and deserted, I ne'er can forget you,
Though this heart throbs to bursting by anguish possest.

8.

I thought this poor brain fever'd even to madness,
Of tears as of reason forever was drain'd,
But the drops which now flow down this bosom of sadness,
Convince me, the springs have some moisture retain'd.

9.

Sweet scenes of my childhood! your blest recollection,
Has wrung from these eye-lids to weeping long dead,
In torrents, the tears of my warmest affection,
The last and the fondest, I ever shall shed.


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