Classic Poem

Stay hours of peace! Awhile delay,
Awhile with grateful Linda stay
And hear her yet contented say
Stay hours of peace!

What though no more the midnight ball
Lures me to answer Folly's call
I shun well pleased th'illumined hall
For hours of peace.

For you I gladly would forego
The splendid circle's idle shew,
Nor sigh, for more than you bestow
Dear hours of peace.

What hath the gay, the busy earth
In all its scenes of noisy mirth
More sweet than thee my social hearth
In hours of peace?

A Mother's partial, tender smile
May time your rapid flight beguile
And woo your stay a little while
Oh hours of peace!

The young Anacreon too shall sing
And as he wakes the magic string
Charmed by his notes on hov'ring wing
Stay hours of peace.

No flower hath here the wintry gloom
The Teian rose shall sweetly bloom,
And shed a grateful, soft perfume
O'er hours of peace.

The bough of sportive innocence
The look of bright intelligence,
Shall bless the hours of taste and sense
The hours of peace.

No stern reproving glance ye meet
No look but breathes affection sweet
Then speed not hence your feathery feet
Blest hours of peace.

What charms those white winged hours can stay?
Alas! while thus I idly pray
E'en now how swift you haste away
Dear hours of peace.

Like some capricious beauty, coy,
When most persuasion we employ
Most swift you fly the offer'd joy
Oh hours of peace!—

But time shall ne'er your charms devour
For memory still with soothing power
Shall number o'er each happy hour
The hours of peace.