In their sweet shade can yield thee no repose,

Here, where the blight hath wings.

And as a flower, with some fine sense imbued,

To shrink before the wind’s vicissitude,

So in thy prescient breast

Are lyre-strings quivering with prophetic thrill

To the low footstep of each coming ill:

Oh! canst thou dream of rest?

Bear up thy dream! thou mighty and thou weak!

Heart, strong as death, yet as a reed to break—