20 IIENKY KIKKE WHITE S POE.MS. 



"Twas here, reclining, I indulged her dreams, 



And lost the hour in visionary schemes. 



Here, as I pre?s once more the ancient seat, 



Whj, bland deceiver ! not renew the cheat ? 



Say, can a few sliort years this change acliieve, 



That thy illusions can no more deceive ! 



Time's sombrous tints have every view o*ersj)read, 



A.nd thou, too, gay Seducer ! art thou fled ? 



Though vain thy promise, and thy suit severe, 



Yet thou couldst 'guile misfortune of her tear, 



And oft thy smiles across life's gloomy way, 



Could throw a gleam of transitory day. 



How gay, in youth, the flattering future seems ; 



How sweet is manhood in the infant's dreams ; 



The dire mistake too soon is brought to light, 



And all is buried in redoubled night. 



Yet some can rise superior to the pain, 



And in their breasts the charmer Hope retain : 



While others, dead to feeling, can survey 



Unmoved, their fairest prospects fade away : 



But yet a few there be, — too soon o'ercast ! 



Who shrink unhappy from the adverse blast, 



And woo the first bright gleam, which breaks the gloor.i, 



To gild the silent slumbers of the tomb. 



So, in these shades, the early primrose blows, 



Too soon deceived by suns, and melting snows : 



So falls untimely on the desert waste. 



Its blossoms withering in the northern blast. 



Now pass'd whate'er the u}Jand heights display, 

 Down the steep cliff I wind my devious way ; 

 Oft rousing, as the rustling path I beat. 

 The timid hare from its accustom'd seat. 

 And oh ! how sweet this walk o'erhung with wood, 

 That winds the margin of the solemn flood I 

 What rural objects steal upon the sight ! 

 What rising views prolong the calm delight ! 

 The brooklet branching from the silver Trent, 

 Ihe whispering birch by every zephyr bent, 

 The woudj island, and the naked mead, 



