And so I felt—and Laura beamed

Still lovelier than she ever seemed,

E’en when the dew of childhood’s hours

Along her heart’s first blossoms clung,

And I amid my native bowers

In sinless worship o’er them hung.

Oh! are not feelings such as these

Like splendid rainbow-glories caught

(To cheer our voyage o’er life’s seas)

From Heaven’s own holy Land of Thought?