Page:Moyarra- An Australian Legend in Two Cantos, 1891.djvu/50

 False shapes, the parasites of the hour, Flit round, in impotence of power; These, when Hope's buoyant yearnings are A dower all care to drive afar, Their various blandishments essay Revelling in plenitude of sway.

Lo! when the gloom of autumn's shades The atmosphere of life invades, Where flock these birds of vagrant wing? Fled to adorn some recent spring, Their votary seeks in vain to trace Their path through viewless realms of space:— Himself in desolation of the mind By all but Faith and Hope resigned. Then claims his empire real love; Sorrow but lures him to dominion: The dove hath wings, but doth the dove Desert his mate to prove his pinion?

Though social charms awhile may soothe To short forgetfulness of truth,