It blights the green leaves in the bowers,

It makes an old age of our youth:

And the flow of our feeling, once in it,

Like a streamlet beginning to freeze,

Though it cannot turn ice in a minute,

Grows harder by sullen degrees—

Time treads o'er the grave of Affection;

Sweet honey is turned into gall.

Perhaps you have no recollection

That ever you danced at our Ball.