SONG. 499 



as to promote the mediate if not immediate, amelioration of their con- 

 dition. What a difference London, the Augusta of old, 



"The fairest capital in all the world" 



As it now presents itself, and the huts scattered on the same spot at the 

 heptarchy ? The same difference, it is probable, exists in the amount of 

 the requisites for public opinion at present possessed by its inhabitants, 

 and those of that period. 



Man, in a savage state, albeit little elevated above the brute 

 creation, has the moral principle, though inert, inherent in him : the 

 materials afforded by nature, are also quiescent around him. The 

 former are elicited by great and true principles of revealed religion, 

 whence follo'w, in delightful succession, moral sentiment, and the other 

 requisites for PUBLIC OPINION. ED. 



STANZAS. 



AND thou hast left me, too, my plaintive friend, 

 And I with joys gone by must number thee ; 



But though I much lament, I do commend 

 Thy choice, for little could the pleasure be 



Which I, so lonely and so sad, might lend 

 To such as thee, thou soul of harmony ; 



But though thy lot with gayer be to dwell, 



Surely they will not love thee half so well. 



My soul was even like the troubled sea, 



When the unkind wind would rob it of its rest, 



And thought o'er thought roll'd on impetuously : 

 My heart nigh broke, it was so sore distress'd ; 



And thou didst breathe thy syren melody ; 

 The sea was quieted, my spirit bless'd ; 



Life seem'd almost to hang on thee alone ; 



Would I had never seen thee ! Thou art gone. 



Gone ! and again will dreams of madness crowd ; 



What am I now ? Desolate desolate, 

 I have seen fall the over-charged cloud, 



When of its tears it could not bear the weight, 

 To the cold ground : I've seen the flow'ret bow'd, 



Which humbly grew till night's untimely hate 

 Delug'd with dewy grief its youthfulness : 



Am I like them ? Oh, lady, say not yes ! w. 



3 S2 



