It swells with wishes proud but vain—

And on its altar kindle fires,

Whose wasted warmth but nurtures pain.

And feelings come, with potent spell,

In many a wildering throng combined,

Whose force no words can ever tell,

Nor language e’er a likeness find.

But, ah! how sinks my saddened soul,

To know, with all its longings high,

It ne’er can reach the tempting goal,