Sonnet XVI (YE vales and woods! fair scenes…)

YE vales and woods! fair scenes of happier hours! Ye feather'd people! tenants of the grove; And you, bright stream! befringed with shrubs and flowers; Behold my grief, ye witnesses of love!

For ye beheld my infant passion rise, And saw thro' years unchang'd my faithful flame; Now cold, in dust, the beauteous object lies, And you, ye conscious scenes, are still the same!

While busy Memory still delights to dwell On all the charms these bitter tears deplore, And with a trembling hand describes too well The angel form I shall behold no more! To Heaven she's fled! and nought to me remains But the pale ashes which her urn contains.