James Thomson

Here you will find the Poem An Elegy on Parting of poet James Thomson

An Elegy on Parting

It was a sad, ay 'twas a sad farewell, 
I still afresh the pangs of parting feel; 
Against my breast my heart impatient beat, 
And in deep sighs bemoan'd its cruel fate; 
Thus with the object of my love to part, 
My life! my joy! 'twould rend a rocky heart. 
Where'er I turn myself, where'er I go, 
I meet the image of my lovely foe; 
With witching charms the phantom still appears, 
And with her wanton smiles insults my tears; 
Still haunts the places where we used to walk, 
And where with raptures oft I heard her talk: 
Those scenes I now with deepest sorrow view, 
And sighing bid to all delight adieu. 
While I my head upon this turf recline, 
Officious sun, in vain on me you shine; 
In vain unto the smiling fields I hie; 
In vain the flowery meads salute my eye; 
In vain the cheerful birds and shepherds sing, 
And with their carols make the valleys ring; 
Yea, all the pleasure that the country yield 
Can't me from sorrow for her absence shield; 
With divine pleasure books which one inspire, 
Yea, books themselves I do not now admire. 
But hark! methinks some pitying power I hear, 
This welcome message whisper in my ear: 
`Forget thy groundless griefs, dejected swain, 
You and the nymph you love shall meet again; 
No more your muse shall sing such mournful lays, 
But bounteous heaven and your kind mistress praise.?