Come, take thy harp—'tis vain to muse

  Upon the gathering ills we see;

Oh! take thy harp and let me lose

  All thoughts of ill in hearing thee.

Sing to me, love!—Though death were near,

  Thy song could make my soul forget—

Nay, nay, in pity, dry that tear,

  All may be well, be happy yet.

Let me but see that snowy arm

  Once more upon the dear harp lie,

And I will cease to dream of harm,

  Will smile at fate, while thou art nigh.

Give me that strain of mournful touch

  We used to love long, long ago,

Before our hearts had known as much

  As now, alas! they bleed to know.

Sweet notes! they tell of former peace,

  Of all that looked so smiling then,

Now vanished, lost—oh, pray thee cease,

  I cannot bear those sounds again.

Art thou, too, wretched? Yes, thou art;

  I see thy tears flow fast with mine—

Come, come to this devoted heart,

  'Tis breaking, but it still is thine!