76 MEMORIAL TRIBUTE 



And his the feeling heart each pang could move 

 That human nature knew ; " gentle as dove, 

 As serpent wise." If innocence might e'er 



Be join'd to knowledge elsewhere than above, 

 The union in his soul might well appear, 

 O'er whose untimely fate I drop th' unbidden tear. 



XVIII 



Friend of my heart ! who that e'er knew thy worth 

 Could hear unmov'd the melancholy tale ? 



There breathes not on this dark and dreary earth 

 A human being whom I love so well 

 Save one 1 and she, perchance, may sadly dwell 



On thy lamented doom. We scarcely know 

 How dear our friends, till the convulsive swell 



Which heaves the throbbing bosom sadly show 

 That he for whom it rises mingled with its glow. 



1 This requires explanation. Having his mind entirely occupied 

 with the idea of his departed friend, the author, at the time of com- 

 posing this stanza, thought and felt that none could be dearer to his 

 heart. This, however, it will readily be perceived, was rather a hallu- 

 cination produced by feeling, than the result of a strict investigation 

 of his affections. There are several whom he loves as well ; but few 

 whom he loves more. There are no other passages which require 

 explanation or modification to show that they are legitimate. This 

 explanation is made, not for the purpose of showing the author's regard 

 to truth : for opinion and appearances, he thinks, he can treat with 

 great contempt and disregard; but to prevent the possibility of 

 fancying that exaggerations have been used in describing the character 

 of his friend. 



