TOBACCO LEAVES 



SONNET ON TOBACCO 

 FROM THE FRENCH OF GRAEVIUS 



SWEET enchantment of my solitude, 

 Companion glowing-pipe-sublime delight ; 

 To my dull'd soul thou bringst clearest 



sight, 

 To my sad heart a calm and happy 



mood. 



Tobacco ! rapture of my mind, when I 

 See, like the lightning, vanish in the air 

 Thy smoke, I find an image striking rare 

 Of my life's feebleness and brevity. 

 With eloquence thou tellst unto me 

 What I, alas ! alas ! must one day be 

 I, animated ashes and I feel 

 Confused, ashamed, that, running after 



smoke, 



I lose myself, like thee ; thou dost evoke 

 Regrets when most thou dost thy charms 



reveal. 



95 



