XIII. STANZAS. 1. AWAY, away, ye notes of woe! Be silent thou once soothing strain, Or I must flee from hence, for, oh! I dare not trust those sounds again. To me they speak of brighter days But lull the chords, for now, alas! I must not think, I may not gaze On what I am, on what I was. 2. The voice that made those sounds more sweet Is hushed, and all their charms are fled; And now their softest notes repeat A dirge, an anthem o'er the dead! Yes, Thyrza! yes, they breathe of thee, And all that once was harmony Is worse than discord to my heart! 3. "Tis silent all!—but on my ear The well-remembered echoes thrill; I hear a voice I would not hear, A voice that now might well be still, Yet oft my doubting soul 'twill shake: Ev'n slumber owns its gentle tone, Till consciousness will vainly wake To listen, though the dream be flown. 4. Sweet Thyrza! waking as in sleep, Thou art but now a lovely dream; A star that trembled o'er the deep, Then turned from earth its tender beam. |