THE LEGACY.
WHEN in death I shall calm recline,
O! bear my heart to my mistress dear,
Tell her it liv'd upon smiles and wine
Of the brightest hue, while it linger'd here;
Bid her not shed one tear of sorrow?
To fully a heart so brilliant and light;
But balmy drops of the red grape borrow
To bathe the relic from morn till night
When the light of my song is o'er,
O! bear my harp to your ancient hall;
Hang it up at that friendly door
Where weary travellers love to call;
And should some hand that roams for ken,
Revive its soft notes when passing a ⟨long⟩,
O! let one thought of its matter waken
Your warmest smile for the child of long.
Take this cup that is now o'erflowing,
To grace your revels when I'm at rest;
Never, O never, its balm bestowing
On lips that beauty hath seldom blest;
But should some warm devoted lover,
To her he loves once bathe its brim,
O! then my spirit about shall never,
To hallow each drop that foams for him.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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