Shall change from youth’s bright hope to darkling pain,

When thy young life in life’s hard war is slain,

When thou art gone, & I, & our strong love

Which now Time’s change doth but more changeless prove.

19
A YOUTH

Play thou on men as on a hárp’s stríng:

Though of themselves they lifeless are

In them thy spirit’s music shall ring.

Breathe thou in them as through a reed

Thy soul’s strong message, through them declare