dFact autJ dTiction. 189 



FACT AND FICTION, 



||OU still may be what you might have 

 been," 

 'Tis thus, you tell me, the Poet sings ; 

 And cheery and sweet sounds the song, I ween. 

 And kind is the note which the tidings brings. 



But as long as mind and mem'ry live, 



As thought and reason, too, remain, 

 Can the future relief to bygones give. 



And create new hopes unbedim'd by pain ? 



You've smash'd your vase in a thousand bits ; 



Pick them up, and unite them : well ! 

 If it does not leak you can see the splits, 



The traces of where it in past times fell. 



And if it gives you the pleasure still 



It gave you once to view and hold. 

 Then trouble and sorrow can never kill, 



xAnd with pure young hearts are endow'd the old. 



But yoti may be what you might have been, 



Good Sir, alas ! and spotless Miss ; 

 But had you erred when your life was green 



You'd laugh as you read such twaddle as this. 



