Hail, loveliest scene these eyes have e'er survey'd!
Where my gay childhood innocently grew;
Where oft my feet with truant pastime play'd,
And my warm youth life's freshest pleasures knew!
Roll back, ye hasty suns, and bring again
Those days of gold, then stand for ever still!
Ere thro' my frame had pierc'd the shaft of pain;
Ere my warm spirits care had learn'd to chill.
Delightful Hope! gay, laughing prophetess!
The flattering painter of Futurity!
That told'st me I should feel unmingled bliss;
Come, tell me o'er again the charming lie!
Repeat that tale I heard of days to come;
All rich with bright impossibilities!
Walks always smooth, and flowers of lasting bloom,
And thornless roses, and unclouded skies!
Wild, wanton promiser! that told'st this breast,
This trusting breast, it ne'er should taste of pain;
By smiling Fates with boundless love carest!
The charming lie, come, tell me o'er again!
Return that health which bloom'd without my care;
Came uninvok'd, and, though neglected, staid:
Which ask'd nor lenient herb, nor fount, nor air,
Contemn'd all danger, and despis'd all aid.
Again, my bosom glow as then it glow'd;
When round I look'd, and felt that all was fair!
When high on rapture's eagle-wing I rode;
Tower'd to the sun, and spurn'd the clouds of care!
Those slumbers sound again my senses bind,
That made but one sweet instant all my night;
That heard nor barking cur, nor howling wind,
Nor Time's deep, solemn toll proclaim his flight.
And, oh! the fervours, Heav'n, renew, that ran
Through my young nerves, (sensation all divine!)
Ere broke that golden dream which show'd me man,
Not fairer in his form, than pure within.
Ere yet Surprise had made her fearful start,
As hell-born Villainy first meets the view!
That smoothest smiles oft mask a frowning heart,
Ere yet my blissful inexperience knew
Give me again in all men to confide;
Again suspicion from my breast be driv'n;
Still would I view my kind with gen'rous pride,
And deem the world of man the word of Heav'n.
And take once more your turn, ecstatic days!
When life's vast curtain rose, and bless'd my view!
Lo! the gay plumes, the spangles, and the blaze!
All wondrous bright, enchanting all, and new!
Move my still breast, sweet Novelty, again!
Again with wild delight my passions dance!
Return the bounding heart, the fever'd brain,
Return the years of transport and romance!
But, chief, that sweet surprise restore me, Fate,
Young Fancy felt in Academia's hall;
The muse of Rome and Greece as first she met,
And each quick passion own'd her mighty call!
On the bright plains when Fear first bent her gaze,
Where, back'd by gods, immortal heroes strove!
At dead of night, view'd Ilium's funeral blaze,
And shook, with heav'n, beneath the nod of Jove!
When first young P ITY wept with Hector's wife,
As her fall'n hero to her sight appears;
Saw Ajax' sword ease it's griev'd lord of life;
And swell'd the flood of exil'd Ovid's tears;
And trac'd that flagging jav'lins languid flight,
An old man's trembling anger faintly threw;
Mock'd by the foe, who, in a father's sight,
The flying son, with barb'rous fury, slew:
Saw him, o'er scepter'd subjects that had reign'd,
Of all vast Asia that had worn the crown,
An headless corse, unburied on the sand,
By no one honour'd, and to no one known!
And shar'd his sigh, who, in the myrtle grove,
The unforgiving fair obscurely knew;
From him (too late return'd) who fled her love,
Cold, in her turn, the scornful shadow flew:
Tho' woo'd with tears, the phantom shot away,
Nor injur'd Beauty's stately silence broke;
Heedless of all he now would idly say,
T' excuse the sails that her kind shore forsook.
And give me, Nature, once again to prove,
Those dear, delirious, agitated days,
When woke within me first the throb of love,
And radiant Beauty dazzled first my gaze!
Soft idle hours! when Reason sat retir'd,
And Fancy o'er me all her influence threw!
When, save what Laura's changeful eyes inspir'd,
No hopes I cherish'd, and no fears I knew!
Resume, blest Lunacy, thy pleasing sway!
Return the wild delight,—the pensive sigh,—
The airy sonnet,—and the plaintive lay,—
The moonlight walk,—and sweetly sleepless eye!
Enchanted grounds! o'er which I vacant stray'd,
In bowers of fragrance where I careless sat,
While more than earthly music round me play'd,
To a sad outcast ope again your gate!
Ah! swift-wing'd joys! for ever, ever, flown!
Ah, fruitless revocation, fond and vain!
Adieu, blest days, that must but once be known!
Farewel, delights, I may not taste again!
Come, Virtue, when all other joys retreat,
Still constant found! and, smiling Friendship, come!
And beauteous Truth!—now gaudier beams have set,
Gild, with your mild and lunar rays, my gloom.
Where my gay childhood innocently grew;
Where oft my feet with truant pastime play'd,
And my warm youth life's freshest pleasures knew!
Roll back, ye hasty suns, and bring again
Those days of gold, then stand for ever still!
Ere thro' my frame had pierc'd the shaft of pain;
Ere my warm spirits care had learn'd to chill.
Delightful Hope! gay, laughing prophetess!
The flattering painter of Futurity!
That told'st me I should feel unmingled bliss;
Come, tell me o'er again the charming lie!
Repeat that tale I heard of days to come;
All rich with bright impossibilities!
Walks always smooth, and flowers of lasting bloom,
And thornless roses, and unclouded skies!
Wild, wanton promiser! that told'st this breast,
This trusting breast, it ne'er should taste of pain;
By smiling Fates with boundless love carest!
The charming lie, come, tell me o'er again!
Return that health which bloom'd without my care;
Came uninvok'd, and, though neglected, staid:
Which ask'd nor lenient herb, nor fount, nor air,
Contemn'd all danger, and despis'd all aid.
Again, my bosom glow as then it glow'd;
When round I look'd, and felt that all was fair!
When high on rapture's eagle-wing I rode;
Tower'd to the sun, and spurn'd the clouds of care!
Those slumbers sound again my senses bind,
That made but one sweet instant all my night;
That heard nor barking cur, nor howling wind,
Nor Time's deep, solemn toll proclaim his flight.
And, oh! the fervours, Heav'n, renew, that ran
Through my young nerves, (sensation all divine!)
Ere broke that golden dream which show'd me man,
Not fairer in his form, than pure within.
Ere yet Surprise had made her fearful start,
As hell-born Villainy first meets the view!
That smoothest smiles oft mask a frowning heart,
Ere yet my blissful inexperience knew
Give me again in all men to confide;
Again suspicion from my breast be driv'n;
Still would I view my kind with gen'rous pride,
And deem the world of man the word of Heav'n.
And take once more your turn, ecstatic days!
When life's vast curtain rose, and bless'd my view!
Lo! the gay plumes, the spangles, and the blaze!
All wondrous bright, enchanting all, and new!
Move my still breast, sweet Novelty, again!
Again with wild delight my passions dance!
Return the bounding heart, the fever'd brain,
Return the years of transport and romance!
But, chief, that sweet surprise restore me, Fate,
Young Fancy felt in Academia's hall;
The muse of Rome and Greece as first she met,
And each quick passion own'd her mighty call!
On the bright plains when Fear first bent her gaze,
Where, back'd by gods, immortal heroes strove!
At dead of night, view'd Ilium's funeral blaze,
And shook, with heav'n, beneath the nod of Jove!
When first young P ITY wept with Hector's wife,
As her fall'n hero to her sight appears;
Saw Ajax' sword ease it's griev'd lord of life;
And swell'd the flood of exil'd Ovid's tears;
And trac'd that flagging jav'lins languid flight,
An old man's trembling anger faintly threw;
Mock'd by the foe, who, in a father's sight,
The flying son, with barb'rous fury, slew:
Saw him, o'er scepter'd subjects that had reign'd,
Of all vast Asia that had worn the crown,
An headless corse, unburied on the sand,
By no one honour'd, and to no one known!
And shar'd his sigh, who, in the myrtle grove,
The unforgiving fair obscurely knew;
From him (too late return'd) who fled her love,
Cold, in her turn, the scornful shadow flew:
Tho' woo'd with tears, the phantom shot away,
Nor injur'd Beauty's stately silence broke;
Heedless of all he now would idly say,
T' excuse the sails that her kind shore forsook.
And give me, Nature, once again to prove,
Those dear, delirious, agitated days,
When woke within me first the throb of love,
And radiant Beauty dazzled first my gaze!
Soft idle hours! when Reason sat retir'd,
And Fancy o'er me all her influence threw!
When, save what Laura's changeful eyes inspir'd,
No hopes I cherish'd, and no fears I knew!
Resume, blest Lunacy, thy pleasing sway!
Return the wild delight,—the pensive sigh,—
The airy sonnet,—and the plaintive lay,—
The moonlight walk,—and sweetly sleepless eye!
Enchanted grounds! o'er which I vacant stray'd,
In bowers of fragrance where I careless sat,
While more than earthly music round me play'd,
To a sad outcast ope again your gate!
Ah! swift-wing'd joys! for ever, ever, flown!
Ah, fruitless revocation, fond and vain!
Adieu, blest days, that must but once be known!
Farewel, delights, I may not taste again!
Come, Virtue, when all other joys retreat,
Still constant found! and, smiling Friendship, come!
And beauteous Truth!—now gaudier beams have set,
Gild, with your mild and lunar rays, my gloom.