Her mother’s tale! Its memory made the sky

Seem all too joyous for her shrinking eye;

Check’d on her lip the flow of song, which fain

Would there have linger’d; flush’d her cheek to pain,

If met by sudden glance; and gave a tone

Of sorrow, as for something lovely gone,

E’en to the spring’s glad voice. Her own was low

And plaintive. Oh! there lie such depths of woe

In a young blighted spirit! Manhood rears

A haughty brow, and age has done with tears;