53
TO AN AGED FRIEND OF MY FATHER.
With youthful diffidence and dubious thought,
The suffering child of thy fraternal friend
Would, though by genius and by art untaught,
Her thanks with reverence and affection blend;
The suffering child of thy fraternal friend
Would, though by genius and by art untaught,
Her thanks with reverence and affection blend;
Would breathe to thee, though no soft music flow,
The simple tribute of a grateful heart:
The mind, o'erwhelmed with long prevailing woe,
No pleasing strains harmonious can impart.
The simple tribute of a grateful heart:
The mind, o'erwhelmed with long prevailing woe,
No pleasing strains harmonious can impart.
But gratitude awakes within the breast
Each tender cord, responsive to the tone
Of kindest pity oft by thee expressed,
When Hope's blest consolation long had flown.
Each tender cord, responsive to the tone
Of kindest pity oft by thee expressed,
When Hope's blest consolation long had flown.
The balm that Sympathy balsamic yields,
From thee can soothe, when stern afflictions rend,—
With peaceful solace the torn bosom heal,
And pensive pleasure's milder influence lend.
From thee can soothe, when stern afflictions rend,—
With peaceful solace the torn bosom heal,
And pensive pleasure's milder influence lend.
Cordial compassion, with its pious ray,
And friendship pure within thy breast are shrined:
And worth, unfading as perennial day.
With all the higher virtues is combined.
And friendship pure within thy breast are shrined:
And worth, unfading as perennial day.
With all the higher virtues is combined.
