Herding  with  creatures  I  despise ;
And  when  their  lips  applaud  the  song,

A  starting  tear  alone  replies ;
For  oh  ! — when  flatt'rers  praise  the  strain,

When  critics  smile  upon  the  lay,
A  cloud  comes  o'er  my  darken'd  brain,

And  I  am  sad — where  all  are  gay  !


POEM.S.  23


III.
Still  I  must  play  a  borrowed  part,

And  hide  the  weight  of  grief  I  feel ;
What  pang  can  rend  the  bleeding  heart,

Like  that  which  hollow  smiles  conceal  ?
Smiles, — like  the  fat'  1  blush  which  sheds,

O'er  burning  Fever''s  withering  brow
Health's  brilliant  hue  ; — and  unseen  spreads.
Destruction  in  the  faithless  glow  !


IV.
My  Lyre ; — it  speaks  of  "  other  times,""

And  many  a  tale  of  sadness  tells
This  aching  heart ; — as  oft  the  chimes

Borne  on  the  breeze,  from  distant  beUs,
Brina:  to  the  war-worn  soldier  s  mind,

(Long  destined  from  such  joys  to  roam,)
Fond  thoughts  of  loved-ones,  left  behind,

Bright  visions  of  bis  earliest  home  !


24  POEMS.
But  though  we  never  may  renew,
Our  young  affection''s  sever'd  chain ;

Fancy  oft  joins  the  broken  clue,

And  brings  past  pleasures  o^'er  again ; —

In  slumber's  dream,  I  view  thee  yet.
And  see  thy  well-known  form  displayed ;

Then  starting — wake  with  vain  regret,


To  find,  'twas  but  a  fleeting  shade


VI.
'Tis  true,  that  other  Unks  have  twin'd

Their  tendi'ils  round  this  heart  of  mine ;
And  other  ties  will  shortly  bind

The  soul,  that  once  was  wholly  thine ;
Fate  has  ordain'd  it ; — therefore  now,

No  wandering  thought  must  e'er  be  giv'n
To  earher  hopes  ; — the  sacred  vow

I've  pledg'd — is  register'd  in  heav'n  !


POEMS.  25


VII.
