Page:The Lover's Songster; a New Song Book; Being a Choice Collection of Celebrated Love Songs WDL3360.pdf/7



HOU ling'ring star, with less'ning ray, That lov'st to greet the early morn, Again thou usher'st in the day My Mary from my soul was torn. O Mary, dear departed shade! Where is thy place of blissful rest? See'st thou thy lover lowly laid? Hear'st thou the groans that rend his breast?

That sacred hour can I forget? Can I forget the hallow'd grove, Where, by the winding Ayr, we met, To live one day of parting love? Eternity can ne'er efface Those records dear of transport past; Thy image, at our last embrace, Ah! little thought we 'twas our last.

Ayr, gurgling, kiss'd its pebbled shore, O'erhung with wild-woods thick'ning green; The fragrant birch, and hawthorn hoar, Twin'd am'rous round the raptur'd scene The flowers sprang wanton to be prest: The birds sang love on ev'ry spray; Till too, too soon the glowing west Proclaim'd the speed of winged day.

Still o'er these scenes my mem'ry wakes, And fondly broods with miser care; Time but the impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.