In darkness, in eternal space,

      Sightless as a sin-quenched star,

      Thou shalt pursue thy wandering race,

      Receding into regions far—

      On thee the eyes of mortal men

      Shall never, never light again;

      Memory alone may steal a glance

      Like some wild glimpse in sleep we're taking.

      Of a long perish'd countenance

      We have forgotten when awaking—

      Sad, evanescent, colour'd weak,

      As beauty on a dying cheek.

      Farewell! that cold regretful word

      To one whom we have called a friend—

      Yet still "farewell" I must record

      The sign that marks our friendship's end.

      Thou'rt on thy couch of wither'd leaves,

      The surly blast thy breath receives,

      In the stript woods I hear thy dirge,

      Thy passing bell the hinds are tolling

      Thy death-song sounds in ocean's surge,

      Oblivion's clouds are round thee rolling,

      Thou'lst buried be where buried lie

      Years of the dead eternity!

      "Hark the deep-toned chime of that bell

      As it breaks on the midnight ear—

      Seems it not tolling a funeral knell?

      'Tis the knell of the parting year!

      Before that bell shall have ceas'd its chime

      The year shall have sunk on the ocean of Time!"

      Our pilgrimage here

      By so much is shorten'd—then fare thee well Year!

      Tell me, thou god of slumbers! why

      Thus from my pillow dost thou fly?

      And wherefore, stranger to thy balmy power,

      Whilst death-like silence reigns around,

      And wraps the world in sleep profound,

      Must I alone count every passing hour?

      And, whilst each happier mind is hush'd in sleep,

      Must I alone a painful vigil keep,

      And to the midnight shades my lonely sorrows pour?

      Once more be thou the friend of woe,

      And grant my heavy eyes to know

      The welcome pressure of thy healing hand;

      So shall the gnawing tooth of care

      Its rude attacks awhile forbear,

      Still'd by the touch of thy benumbing wand—

      And my tir'd spirit, with thy influence blest,

      Shall calmly yield it to the arms of rest,

      But which, or comes or flies, only at thy command!

      Yet if when sleep the body chains

      In sweet oblivion of its pains,

      Thou bid'st imagination active wake,

      Oh, Morpheus! banish from my bed

      Each form of grief, each form of dread,

      And all that can the soul with horror shake:

      Let not the ghastly fiends admission find,

      Which conscience forms to haunt the guilty mind—

      Oh! let not forms like these my peaceful slumbers break!

      But bring before my raptured sight

      Each pleasing image of delight,

      Of love, of friendship, and of social joy;

      And chiefly, on thy magic wing

      My ever blooming Mary bring,

      (Whose beauties all my waking thoughts employ,)

      Glowing with rosy health and every charm

      That knows to fill my breast with soft alarm,

      Oh, bring the gentle maiden to my fancy's eye!

      Not such, as oft my jealous fear

      Hath bid the lovely girl appear,

      Deaf to my vows, by my complaints unmov'd,

      Whilst to my happier rival's prayer,

      Smiling, she turns a willing ear,

      And gives the bliss supreme to be belov'd:

      Oh, sleep dispensing power! such thoughts restrain,

      Nor e'en in dreams inflict the bitter pain,

      To know my vows are scorn'd—my rivals are approv'd!

      Ah, no! let fancy's hand supply

      The blushing cheek, the melting eye,

      The heaving breast which glows with genial fire;

      Then let me clasp her in my arms,

      And, basking in her sweetest charms,

      Lose every grief in that triumphant hour.

      If Morpheus, thus thou'lt cheat the gloomy night,

      For thy embrace I'll fly day's garish light,

      Nor ever wish to wake while dreams like this inspire!