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ECHOES OF MELANCHOL 2’.
ECHOES
OF
MELANCHOLY. I.
The loves and joys of earth are brief; The fairest flowers the first decay; In Pleasure’s footsteps follows Grief; Too soon we mourn the fallen leaf And life’s departed May. We yearn, perplexed, and stung with pain,
Our long-lost Aidenn to regain: Oh, is it far away? Hark! from the caverns of the heart, Faint echoes, phantom-voices, start:
“ Far, far away l” And, sounding from beyond the sky, Melodious, solemn strains reply:
“ Far, far away!” ' II. The soul is pained with vain regret; VVe pine for what no years restore; And sorrows we would fain forget, With claspéd hands and eyelids wet, Haunt us for evermore.
Grows there no balm in grove or field, No plant that may nepenthe yield? Ah, is there no reprieve? List! from the grove low murmurs flow, As though sad sprites bewailed their woe: “ No, no reprieve !” And, from the field, with mournful sigh, The withering flowers and grass reply: H No, no reprieve !” III. A ’wildering maze is life, in sooth;
And flickering hopes, as false as bright, lllusive, lure our trusting youth, And with their glamour hide the truth Until our hairs are white. 0 World! 0 Time! can ye not give Somewhat to make it sweet to live? Must joys, loves, all depart? The World responds with scornful laugh, Pointing to many an epitaph, “All, all depart!” And, as he sweeps, remorseless, by,
The knell-like tones of Time reply, “All, all depart l”
[Fennu.unr,
