To My Three Absent Friends, Zh., B. and S.

My brothers! whither scatter’d now?
What fate--what cruel fate could sever
Hands--souls--fast-bound--divided never?
But ye are fled--and fled for ever,
And I am left alone with woe!

The sigh I heave in silence here,
The careless zephyr bears away;
’Tis lost in twilight’s darkening ray--
’Tis veil’d in night--it fades in day--
It ne’er will reach your listening ear.

Perchance even now, while round me roll
Dark storms and misty clouds--even now,
Pain’s icy sweat upon his brow,
One calls upon his friend--and oh!
Death’s wintry curtain wraps his soul.

Then sleep in peace, thou spirit blest!
My spirit seems to cling to thee;
From sorrow--to felicity
Wafted--thy bark has pass’d the sea
Of storms--in joy’s calm port to rest.

How long shall absence’ misery last?
When, when shall dawn the hour of meeting?
Shall ne’er again the blessed greeting
Of social bliss return?--How fleeting
Its rapture--’Tis for ever past!

Cold--cold--I feel my heart;--delight
Can kindle ne’er its fire again--
My tears flow forth--they flow in vain;
My smiles--no light those smiles retain;
For what awaked it sinks in night.

Time was--how blessed to recall
That time--when our hands garlanded
The fairest wreaths of roses red,
And in youth’s spring the chorus led
To heaven--the source, the end of all.

Time was--but like a dream it fled!
The hymn--’tis now a funeral dirge;
The garland--’tis affliction’s scourge;
The dance--its memories now emerge
Like ghosts, that wander midst the dead.

And now the plaint ascends!--Appear,
Appear, delightful hours, anew!
Spirit of youth, so fond, so true,
Awake!--Suns, once so bright, so few,
Shine--let illusion’s mockery cheer!

But see! the darkness creeps away--
The clouds disperse--the storm is gone--
Thy smile returns not--blessed one!--
The mountains see the morning dawn--
To me, alas! there dawns no day.