Classic Poem

No longer weep my days in sorrow past,
Tho' clouds and storms pursue me to the last,
For wisdom's lessons are by sorrow taught
And reason claims the awe-instructed thought.
When uncurbed youth all wild with passion's fire
Abandoned every rein to mad desire,
Scarce had I felt the raptured, feverish dream
Ere one rude flash, one strong resistless beam
From faith's bright torch aroused me from the trance
And all my pleasures vanished at her glance;
To faithless love I gave my willing soul,
Woo'd his deceits and loved his proud controul,
Nay, when he fled, regretted ev'n my pains
And loath'd the freedom which had burst my claims.
Daughters of memory! To your shrine I flew,
And offered all my bleeding heart to you!
To you for fame presumptuously I bowed,
And thought your flattering smiles the claim allowed.
But judgement still repulsed me with a frown,
And withered with a look my laurel crown.
How clouded every view that smiled from far,
How dimmed the lustre of my ruling star!
Ere yet it reached its bright meridian blaze,
Pale, thro' malignant vapours, gleamed its rays
No golden threads the fates my days allow,
Spun all with lingering hand and sullen brow
No pleasure strews my path with fairy flowers
Me glory calls not from his glittering towers.
Ah! Why must life resign its joys so soon,
And shades untimely blacken o'er its noon!
For bright illusions had its morning chest,
Awhile in flattering dreams my soul was blest,
Too transient error! Vanished ere enjoyed,
Why were thy false delights so soon destroyed?
Yet friendship, eloquent the soul to calm,
Shall o'er my sorrows shed her healing balm,
She loves the thorny couch of care to smooth
And share the anguish which she best can sooth.
And sure some pleasure this sad heart had left
While of her soft support not quite bereft
This shipwrecked bark its course shall yet maintain,
And, piloted by her, the shores of peace shall gain.
When stern misfortune's lips our hopes reprove,
Bid us despair to please, and cease to love,
How sweet e'en then the heart to interest,
And with soft pity touch the generous breast
And when Love's magic charms forever end,
Oh! How consoling is the name of Friend!