Ah! was it not enough, that Thou
In Thy eternal Glory should outgo me? 35
Would'st thou not Grief's sad Victory allow

* * * * *

Hope's a Breeze that robs the Blossoms
Fancy feeds, and murmurs the Bee——

* * * * *

MS. II

1

Verse, that Breeze mid blossoms straying
Where Hope clings feeding like a Bee.
Both were mine: Life went a Maying
With Nature, Hope, and Poesy,
When I was young.
When I was young! ah woeful When!
Ah for the Change twixt now and then!
This House of Life, not built with hands
Where now I sigh, where once I sung.
Or[This snail-like House, not built with hands,
This Body that does me grievous wrong.]
O'er Hill and dale and sounding Sands.
How lightly then it flash'd along—
Like those trim Boats, unknown of yore,
On Winding Lakes and Rivers wide,
That ask no aid of Sail or Oar,
That fear no spite of Wind or Tide.
Pencil

Nought car'd this Body for wind or weather,
When youth and I liv'd in't together.

2

Flowers are lovely, Love is flower-like;
Friendship is a sheltering Tree;
O the joys that came down shower-like
Of Beauty, Truth and Liberty
When I was young 5
When I was young, ah woeful when
Ah for the change twixt now and then
In Heat or Frost we car'd not whether
Night and day we lodged together
woeful when
When I was young—ah words of agony 10
Ah for the change 'twixt now and then
O youth my Home-Mate dear so long, so long:
I thought that thou and I were one
I scarce believe that thou art gone
Thou always wert a Masker bold
I mark that change, in garb and size 15
heave the Breath
Those grisled Locks I well behold
But still thy Heart is in thine eyes
What strange disguise hast now put on
To make believe that thou art gone
Or[O youth for years so many so sweet 20
It seem'd that Thou and I were one
That still I nurse the fond deceit
And scarce believe that thou art gone]