Then wreath the bowl The brightest Wit can find us; Towards heaven to-night, And leave dull earth behind us. WHENE'ER I SEE THOSE SMILING EYES WHENE'ER I see those smiling eyes, As if no cloud could ever rise, To dim a heaven so purely bright- For time will come with all its blights, A chill'd or burning heart behind ;- Ι IF THOU' LT BE MINE. IF thou❜lt be mine, the treasures of air, Or in Hope's sweet music sounds most sweet, Bright flowers shall bloom wherever we rove, In our eyes - if thou wilt be mine, love! And thoughts whose source is hidden and high, Ever green, if thou wilt be mine, love! All this and more the Spirit of Love TO LADIES' EYES. TO Ladies' eyes around, boy, We can't refuse, we can't refuse, Yon airy bowers, yon airy bowers, This earth of ours, this earth of ours. But fill the cup where'er, boy, Our choice may fall, our choice may fall, We're sure to find Love there, boy, So drink them all! so drink them all! Some looks there are so holy, They seem but given, they seem but given, As shining beacons, solely, To light to heaven, to light to heaven. Our choice may fall, our choice may fall, So drink them all! so drink them all! In some, as in a mirror, Love seems portray'd, Love seems portray'd, But shun the flattering error, 'Tis but his shade, 'tis but his shade. Himself has fixed his dwelling In eyes we know, in eyes we know, And lips but this is telling So here they go! so here they go! Fill up, fill up - where'er, boy, Our choice may fall, our choice may fall, We're sure to find Love there, boy, So drink them all! so drink them all! FORGET NOT THE FIELD. FORGET not the field where they perish'd, All gone and the bright hopes we cherish'd Oh! could we from death but recover Those hearts as they bounded before, In the face of high Heaven to fight over That combat for freedom once more; Could the chain for an instant be riven But 'tis past and though blazon'd in story Accurst is the march of that glory Which treads o'er the hearts of the free. Far dearer the grave or the prison Than the trophies of all who have risen THEY MAY RAIL AT THIS LIFE. THEY may rail at this life-from the hour I began it, I found it a life full of kindness and bliss ; And until they can show me some happier planet, More social and bright, I'll content me with this. As long as the world has such lips and such eyes, As before me this moment enraptur'd I see, They may say what they will of their orbs in the skies, But this earth is the planet for you, love, and me. In Mercury's star, where each moment can bring them New sunshine and wit from the fountain on high, Though the nymphs may have livelier poets to sing them,* They've none, even there, more enamor'd than I. And, as long as this harp can be waken'd to love, And that eye its divine inspiration shall be, They may talk as they will of their Edens above, But this earth is the planet for you, love, and me. * "Tous les habitans de Mercure sont vifs."-PLURALITE DES MONDES. L 2 |