Lays of Melpomene (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1824 edition. Excerpt: ...of poor delight Glimmering amid the shades of sorrow's mornless night. Alone beneath the starry eyes of Heaven I sit upon the cold rock's moonlit brow, For while soft slumbers to the world are given, Unpitying grief will none to me allow; The rushing rill's unceasing lapse and flow, The twinkling forest where night zephyr sings, Beseem the voiceless solitude of woe; And thought that maddens, and despair that wrings, Can find relief alone beside the woodland springs. MUSINGS. The youthful heart is heir to wealth That years can never tell; The youthful soul does deeds by stealth That might in triumph swell--The thought that tunes a generousTnind Oft dies upon the wing, And bosoms feeling, fond and kind, Writhe oft 'neath torture's sting. Gay hope, the night-fire of the brain, Allures the heart to woe With beams, that pleasure lends to pain This faithless world to show; And we are sped on life's lone way By gilded goading spears, While flitting fancy's meteor ray Emblazons misery's tears. The deepest woes we feel below, The wildest throes of pain, From our own fond illusions flow, When sanguine passions reign; For guileful flattery soothes the heart That malice turns to sting, And lore, full oft, o'er ruin's dart Its vermeil veil will fling. Anticipations ever glow In self-delusion's light, While sorrow's tear and misery's throe Sublime the heart's delight; As silver clouds in fleecy wreaths A summer sunbeam shade, When breezy music softly breathes Along the waving glade. Cnuimmed by time, the youthful eye Sheds tears unchilled by all Those wayward feuds, that burst the tie-Of love when envies call, And in the rudely tilting world Engender woe and strife, When friendship from his seat is hurled, And pride companions life. Darkness, disease and doubt...