TO MY FRIEND,ON HER BIRTH-DAY.
Bright, dearest Mary, as thine own fair truth,
The glorious sun has risen to gild the earth,
And bids the blest companion of thy youth
Hail the returning day that gave thee birth.
The glorious sun has risen to gild the earth,
And bids the blest companion of thy youth
Hail the returning day that gave thee birth.
Warm, dearest Mary, as thy faithful heart,
Are the fond wishes that now rise in mine
But words, my friend, arc much too poor t' impart
How bright with joy I wish thy life to shine.
Are the fond wishes that now rise in mine
But words, my friend, arc much too poor t' impart
How bright with joy I wish thy life to shine.
Ask thine own heart what its first wishes are,
And they will tell thee what thy friend's must be;
Oh! bid it show the love thou bear'st me there,
And thou wilt learn what mine is then for thee.
And they will tell thee what thy friend's must be;
Oh! bid it show the love thou bear'st me there,
And thou wilt learn what mine is then for thee.
Then bid it show how strong and firm the tie
Which binds thee to the memory of thy friend,
And it will tel! thee, love, most faithfully,
That with her life and thine alone 'twill end.
Which binds thee to the memory of thy friend,
And it will tel! thee, love, most faithfully,
That with her life and thine alone 'twill end.
Ask it, dear Mary, what its pang would be,
If doom'd from its most valued friend to part,
And it will rend in twain to show to thee
The grief, dear Mary, that would break my heart.
If doom'd from its most valued friend to part,
And it will rend in twain to show to thee
The grief, dear Mary, that would break my heart.
But should'st thou, Mary, bid it then proclaim,
How lovely, bright, and fair thy virtues shine,
'Then, dearest friend, I must withdraw my claim,
And yield the palm of victory to thine.
How lovely, bright, and fair thy virtues shine,
'Then, dearest friend, I must withdraw my claim,
And yield the palm of victory to thine.