Page:The Canadian soldiers' song book.djvu/46



Believe me if all those endearing young charms, Which I gaze on so fondly to-day, Were to change by to-morrow, and fade in my arms, Like fairy gifts fading away, Thou would'st still be ador'd as this moment thou art, Let thy loveliness fade as it will, And around the dear ruin each wish of my heart, Would entwine itself verdantly still.

It is not while beauty and youth are thine own, And thy cheeks unprofan'd by a tear, That the fervour and faith of a soul can be known, To which time will but make thee more dear, No, the heart that has truly lov'd, never forgets, But as truly loves on to the close, As the sunflower turns on her god, when he sets, The same look which she turn'd when he rose.

'Tis the last rose of summer, Left blooming alone, All her lovely companions, Are faded and gone No flow'r of her kindred, No rose-bud is nigh To reflect back her blushes, Or give sigh for sigh.

I'll not leave thee, thou lone one! to pine on the stem, Since the lovely are sleeping, Go sleep thou with them Thus kindly I scatter, Thy leaves o'er the bed, Where thy mates of the garden, Lie scentless and dead.

So soon may I follow, When friendships decay, And from love's shining circle, The gems drop away When true hearts lie wither'd, And fond ones are flown, Oh, who would inhabit This bleak world alone.