[[1087]]When I was young—ere I was old
Ah! happy ere, ah! woeful When 25
When I was young, ah woeful when
Which says that Youth and I are twain!
O Youth! for years so many and sweet
'Tis known that Thou and I were one
I'll think it but a false conceit 30
Tis but a gloomy
It cannot be,
I'll not believe that thou art gone
Thy Vesper Bell has not yet toll'd
always
And thou wert still a masker bold
What hast
Some strange disguise thou'st now put on
To make believe that thou art gone? 35
I see these Locks in silvery slips,
This dragging gait, this alter'd size
But spring-tide blossoms on thy Lips
And the young Heart is in thy eyes
tears take sunshine from
Life is but Thought so think I will 40
That Youth and I are Housemates still.

Ere I was old
Ere I was old! ah woeful ere
Which tells me youth's no longer here!
O Youth, &c. 45
Dewdrops are the Gems of Morning,
But the Tears of mournful Eve:
Where no Hope is Life's a Warning
me
That only serves to make us grieve,
Now I am old. 50

N

LOVE'S APPARITION AND EVANISHMENT[1087:1]

[Vide ante, p. [488].]

[FIRST DRAFT]

In vain I supplicate the Powers above;
There is no Resurrection for the Love
That, nursed with tenderest care, yet fades away
In the chilled heart by inward self-decay.
[[1088]]Like a lorn Arab old and blind 5
Some caravan had left behind
That sits beside a ruined Well,
And hangs his wistful head aslant,
Some sound he fain would catch—
Suspended there, as it befell, 10
O'er my own vacancy,
And while I seemed to watch
The sickly calm, as were of heart
A place where Hope lay dead,
The spirit of departed Love 15
Stood close beside my bed.
She bent methought to kiss my lips
As she was wont to do.
Alas! 'twas with a chilling breath
That awoke just enough of life in death 20
To make it die anew.

FOOTNOTES: