TO IZONIA. 



FAIR girl farewell! and with that word receive 



All all a heart, like mine by sorrow torn, 

 Can wish to thee ! Think on me ever not to grieve 



That I am tortured with a hope forlorn 

 But that, by thine example led, my soul will smile 



Serenely on the fate that bids us part, 

 And tell me in my solitude the while, 



That still my memory lives within thy heart 

 That pure and secret sanctuary free 



From the intrusive world's malignant eye, 

 To which my troubled spirit still would flee, 



To woo the solace of thy gentle sigh. 



Ye powers of fancy, than can still display, 



To meditation's rapt and loving hour, 

 The living charm of beauty far away 



Oh ! cheer my musings in my leafless bower ; 

 Pour on mine ear the accents of her tongue, 



The airy likeness of her form reveal, 

 With bright deceit refresh a heart unstrung, 



And o'er my charmed sense illusive steal. 



Izonia ! idol of a wayward breast ! 



Will not the fountain of thine own repay 

 The fitful anguish of my broken rest, 



The waning hope of each desponding day ? 



Lost and forsaken as my lot may seem, 



I fondly woo illusion's spell, to chase 

 Despair and sorrow from a feverish dream, 



And help inventive fancy still to trace 

 Tears on thy cheek within thy pensive mind 



A softened thought of all I wished to be 

 A chastened captive to thy breast confined, 



A soul reclaimed, and yet allured by thee. 



But if a kindlier destiny should wave 



One wandering ray across its cold eclipse, 

 And give me once again the joy it gave, 



The sunny smile, the music of thy lips, 

 Thy young heart's gladness mantling on thy brow 



Oh ! let me find thy breast the same pure shrine ! 

 Oh ! may I meet thee, as I leave thee now, 



Free from all bonds though never, never, mine. 



Misgiving fear ! should sterner fate ordain 



A long, a last farewell should that cold doom 

 That withers hope and love, and staunches pain, 



Decree my anxious heart a distant tomb, 

 Remember me ! believe that, fondly true, 



Receding life was hallowed as it passed ; 

 Affection perished still adoring you 



And breathed its prayer the holiest, as the last ! 



