- When by my solitary hearth I sit,
- And hateful thoughts enwrap my soul in gloom;
- When no fair dreams before my "mind's eye" flit,
- And the bare heath of life presents no bloom:
- Sweet Hope, ethereal balm upon me shed,
- And wave thy silver pinions o'er my head.
- Whene'er I wander, at the fall of night,
- Where woven boughs shut out the moon's bright ray,
- Should sad Despondency my musings fright,
- And frown, to drive fair Cheerfulness away,
- Peep with the moon-beams through the leafy roof,
- And keep that fiend Despondence far aloof.
- Should Disappointment, parent of Despair
- Strive for her son to seize my careless heart,
- When, like a cloud, he sits upon the air,
- Preparing on his spell-bound prey to dart;
- Chase him away, sweet Hope, with visage bright,
- And fright him as the morning frightens night!
- Whene'er the fate of those I hold most dear
- Tells to my fearful breast a tale of sorrow,
- O bright-eyed Hope, my morbid fancy cheer;
- Let me awhile thy sweetest comforts borrow;
- Thy heaven-born radiance around me shed,
- And wave thy silver pinions o'er my head!
- Should e'er unhappy love my bosom pain,
- From cruel parents, or relentless fair;
- O let me think it is not quite in vain
- To sigh out sonnets to the midnight air!
- Sweet Hope, ethereal balm upon me shed,
- And wave thy silver pinions o'er my head.
- In the long vista of the years to roll,
- Let me not see our country's honor fade:
- O let me see our land retain her soul,
- Her pride, her freedom; and not freedom's shade.
- From thy bright eyes unusual brightness shed—
- Beneath thy pinions canopy my head!
- Let me not see the patriot's high bequest,
- Great Liberty! how great in plain attire!
- With the base purple of a court oppress'd
- Bowing her head, and ready to expire:
- But let me see thee stoop from heaven on wings
- That fill the sky with silver glitterings!
- And as, in sparkling majesty, a star
- Gilds the bright summit of some gloomy cloud;
- Brightening the half veil'd face of heaven afar:
- So, when dark thoughts my boding spirit shroud,
- Sweet Hope, celestial influence round me shed,
- And wave thy silver pinions o'er my head.
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