Stanzas to --

Stanzas to --

I saw thee in thy morning,
Of youthful beauty grace and love;
When art lent her adorning,
The gifts of nature to improve.

Thou wast a Queen in splendor,
And thine to conquer ev'ry heart;
Ah! me how soft and tender,
Each thrilling glance thou did'st impart.

But frail one, lost for ever,
Thy magic power o'er ev'ry breast;
For thou each tie didst sever,
When love and friendship tri'd the test.

Now age comes creeping o'er thee,
Thine eyes no more their lustre shine;
And they who did adore thee,
Now bask in sweeter smiles than thine.

Then maiden, when a lover,
Of worth, thy throbing heart would seek,
Give him the little rover,
The language thou of candour speak.

For age will pale thy roses,
Now blooming in their vermeil pride;
And soon each look discloses,
The frost of life's dark even-tide.

Arion

2:9, p. 70

1828.05.23