O Flower Of All That Springs From Gentle Blood

Published 1837

O flower of all that springs from gentle blood, And all that generous nurture breeds to make Youth amiable; O friend so true of soul To fair Aglaia; by what envy moved, Lelius! has death cut short thy brilliant day In its sweet opening? and what dire mishap Has from Savona torn her best delight? For thee she mourns, nor e'er will cease to mourn; And, should the out-pourings of her eyes suffice not For her heart's grief, she will entreat Sebeto Not to withhold his bounteous aid, Sebeto Who saw thee, on his margin, yield to death, In the chaste arms of thy belovèd Love! What profit riches? what does youth avail? Dust are our hopes;--I, weeping bitterly, Penned these sad lines, nor can forbear to pray That every gentle Spirit hither led May read them not without some bitter tears.