She was my early childhood's pet,

Nor can my bleeding heart forget

That love, which has, in later years

Shared all my pastimes, hopes, and fears.

Long has pale death beside her stood,

And poured his arrows like a flood,

Whilst I have tried, with beating heart,

To steal the poison from each dart;

But oft I fear, lest these dread showers

Will baffle all our feeble powers,