I am not shock'd by failings in my friend,
For human life's a zigzag to the end.
But if he to a lower plane descend,
Contented there,-alas, my former friend!
From the little that's shown
To complete the unknown,
Is a folly we hourly repeat;
And for once, I would say,
That men lead us astray,
Ourselves we a thousand times cheat.
Where is the wise and just man? where
That earthly maiden, heavenly fair?
Life slips and passes: where are these?
Friend?-Loved One ?-I am ill at ease.
Shall I give up my hope? declare
Unmeaning promises they were
That fed my youth, pure dreams of night,
And lofty thoughts of clear daylight?
I saw.
I search and cannot find.
'Come, ere too late!' 'tis like a wind
Across a heath. Befool'd we live.
-Nay, Lord, forsake me not!-forgive!
Unless you are growing wise and good,
I can't respect you for growing old;
"Tis a path you would fain avoid if you could,
And it means growing ugly, suspicious, and cold.
18. Deny not Love and Friendship, tho' long and vainly sought;
Thy sad perpetual craving with deepest proof is fraught.
Thou canst be friend and lover; else why thy longing now?
Canst thou be true and tender ?-of mortals, only thou?
They are my friends
Who are most mine,
And I most theirs,
When common cares
Give room to thoughts poetic and divine,
And in a psalm of love all nature blends.
Like children in the masking game
Men strive to hide their natures;
Each in his turn says, 'Guess my name,'
Disguising voice and features.
If he draw you aside from your proper end,
No enemy like a bosom friend.
For thinking, one; for converse, two, no more;
Three for an argument; for walking, four;
For social pleasure, five; for fun, a score.
Can I be friends with that so alter'd you,
And to your former friendly self keep true?
Well for the man whom sickness makes more tender,
Who doth his prideful cravings then surrender,
Owning the boon of every little pleasure,
And love (too oft misprized) a heavenly treasure,
Finding at last a truer strength in weakness,
A medicine for the soul in body-sickness.
While friends we were, the hot debates
That rose 'twixt you and me !—
Now we are mere associates,
And never disagree.
We only touch by surfaces;
But Spirit is the core of these.
Dear friend, so much admired, so oft desired,
'Tis true that now I wish to be away.
You are not tiresome, no! but I am tired.
Allow to servant brain and nerves full play
In their electric function, yea and nay.
Faith and affection do not shift their ground,
Howe'er the vital currents ebb and flow.
To feel most free because most firmly bound
Is friendship's privilege: so now I go,
To rest awhile the mystic nerves and brain,
To walk apart,-and long for you again.
18. Deny not Love and Friendship, tho' long and vainly sought;
Thy sad perpetual craving with deepest proof is fraught.
Thou canst be friend and lover; else why thy longing now?
Canst thou be true and tender?-of mortals, only thou?
For thinking, one; for converse, two, no more;
Three for an argument; for walking, four;
For social pleasure, five; for fun, a score.
Can I be friends with that so alter'd you,
And to your former friendly self keep true?
Well for the man whom sickness makes more tender,
Who doth his prideful cravings then surrender,
Owning the boon of every little pleasure,
And love (too oft misprized) a heavenly treasure,
Finding at last a truer strength in weakness,
A medicine for the soul in body-sickness.
While friends we were, the hot debates
That rose 'twixt you and me!—
Now we are mere associates,
And never disagree.
We only touch by surfaces;
But Spirit is the core of these.
Dear friend, so much admired, so oft desired,
'Tis true that now I wish to be away.
You are not tiresome, no! but I am tired.
Allow to servant brain and nerves full play
In their electric function, yea and nay.
Faith and affection do not shift their ground,
Howe'er the vital currents ebb and flow.
To feel most free because most firmly bound
Is friendship's privilege: so now I go,
To rest awhile the mystic nerves and brain,
To walk apart,-and long for you again.
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