I am for ever bathed in tears, I rend

I am for ever bathed in tears, I rend The air with sighs, and suffer more from dread To tell thee 'tis through thee I have been led To such a state that, seeing where I tend, And the long distance I have come, sweet friend, In following thee, if I desire to leave The vain pursuit, my heart sinks to perceive The way behind me lengthening without end. And if I wish to reach the onward height, Sad thoughts of those who in the wilderness Have fallen, at every step awake my fear; Now above all things then I need the light Of hope, by which I have been wont to steer Through the dim tract of thy forgetfulness.