On Music
Thou spirit, lodg'd in tender breathing airs
Of plaintive melaucholy, soft and wild!
Source of delight to every feeling heart,
Long hast thou been the charmer of my cares—
Long ere my youthful bosom felt the thorns
Mix'd with the roses in the path of life,
Thy melting voice has in that bosom wak'd
The thrill of rapture, or the pensive sigh.
How many a summer's eve I've stol'n away
From scenes of childish sport, to sit alone,
A musing list'ner to thy varied strains!
There is a charm in tender melancholy
Surpassing far the louder joys of mirth!
Enchanting harmony! that charm is thine.
'Tis sweet at twilight's silent pensive hour
To wander by the slowly winding stream,
List'ning the while to trem'lous dying notes,
Wafted along the undulating waves,
And echo'd back in tones more touching still—
From intercepting rocky banks above.
'Tis sweet in winter nights, when fiercely blows
The northern blast with long continued roar,
To hear, each loud and furious gust between,
Thy soft complaining accents slowly steal,
Like heavenly dirges mingling with the storm.
When first the sound of martial music rous'd
Our youth to arms, and call'd them from the loom,
The toils of husbandry and rural cares,
To wield the dreadful implements of war,
In my young breast what strong emotions rose!
It seem'd as if th' invader's threat'ning troops
Already trod in hostile ranks our shores!
It seem'd as if the solemn strain still mourn'd
Prophetic o'er the youthful soldier's fate!
And oh! when first affliction touch'd my mind,
'Twas then I felt how much in unison
With the keen feelings of the human heart
Were thy expressive tones of plaintive woe!—
'T was then, inspir'd by thee, I first essay'd
To bid my thoughts in measur'd numbers flow,
And frame the simple elegiac verse.
Twin sister of the muse in every age,
Sweet soother of the mind when cares oppress,
Retain thy influence o'er my bosom still—
That if, as future years of life roll o'er,
Some strange vicissitudes I yet must know,
If e'er lov'd poesy should cease to charm,
One soláce still may yet remain in thee.
Of plaintive melaucholy, soft and wild!
Source of delight to every feeling heart,
Long hast thou been the charmer of my cares—
Long ere my youthful bosom felt the thorns
Mix'd with the roses in the path of life,
Thy melting voice has in that bosom wak'd
The thrill of rapture, or the pensive sigh.
How many a summer's eve I've stol'n away
From scenes of childish sport, to sit alone,
A musing list'ner to thy varied strains!
There is a charm in tender melancholy
Surpassing far the louder joys of mirth!
Enchanting harmony! that charm is thine.
'Tis sweet at twilight's silent pensive hour
To wander by the slowly winding stream,
List'ning the while to trem'lous dying notes,
Wafted along the undulating waves,
And echo'd back in tones more touching still—
From intercepting rocky banks above.
'Tis sweet in winter nights, when fiercely blows
The northern blast with long continued roar,
To hear, each loud and furious gust between,
Thy soft complaining accents slowly steal,
Like heavenly dirges mingling with the storm.
When first the sound of martial music rous'd
Our youth to arms, and call'd them from the loom,
The toils of husbandry and rural cares,
To wield the dreadful implements of war,
In my young breast what strong emotions rose!
It seem'd as if th' invader's threat'ning troops
Already trod in hostile ranks our shores!
It seem'd as if the solemn strain still mourn'd
Prophetic o'er the youthful soldier's fate!
And oh! when first affliction touch'd my mind,
'Twas then I felt how much in unison
With the keen feelings of the human heart
Were thy expressive tones of plaintive woe!—
'T was then, inspir'd by thee, I first essay'd
To bid my thoughts in measur'd numbers flow,
And frame the simple elegiac verse.
Twin sister of the muse in every age,
Sweet soother of the mind when cares oppress,
Retain thy influence o'er my bosom still—
That if, as future years of life roll o'er,
Some strange vicissitudes I yet must know,
If e'er lov'd poesy should cease to charm,
One soláce still may yet remain in thee.
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