Love Renew'd, a Sonnet

Light fly the hours, attendant joy, Gay mirth, and every sweet employ, Chasing the short-liv'd moments, prove The blissful state of glowing Love.

New to the heart, the youthful Fair, First learns to feel a tenderer care; A fond solicitude which says, How poor the calm of former Days!

Then hope and fear, alternate reign, Transition of delight and pain; That dear distress, that charming strife, Which interests every scene of life:

The cheek suffus'd the downcast brow, The sigh escap'd we know not how; The soft rebuke, th' unwilling blame, Triumphant Nature all proclaim.

Sweet is the Passion thus pursu'd, But sweeter far is Love Renew'd That Love, which, when the bosom thrill'd, Suspense the icy hand hath chill'd;

Hath doom'd to sit the mournful day, And weep the ling ring time away; The heart's best prospects, once so fair, Chang'd in an instant to despair.—

How hard! to view the budding Rose In Life's glad morn its sweets disclose; Then in the fond expectant hour, To lose the lovely yielding flow'r.

How sweet! when hope was scarce alive, To see that hour again revive; The long-lost Rose once more to view, With ripen'd fragrance bloom anew;

Then Love, with soft-ey'd Pity blends. Then, Mem'ry all her aid extends; Past sorrow, heightens present joy, And rapture lives without alloy.