CCXXXIV.
Reading edition
FAREWELL, THOU STREAM.
Air—“Nancy’s to the greenwood gane.”
[This song was written in November, 1794: Thomson pronounced it excellent.]
I.
Farewell, thou stream that winding flows Around Eliza’s dwelling! O mem’ry! spare the cruel throes Within my bosom swelling: Condemn’d to drag a hopeless chain, And yet in secret languish, To feel a fire in ev’ry vein, Nor dare disclose my anguish.
II.
Love’s veriest wretch, unseen, unknown, I fain my griefs would cover; The bursting sigh, th’ unweeting groan, Betray the hapless lover. I know thou doom’st me to despair, Nor wilt, nor canst relieve me; But oh, Eliza, hear one prayer— For pity’s sake forgive me!
III.
The music of thy voice I heard, Nor wist while it enslav’d me; I saw thine eyes, yet nothing fear’d, ’Till fears no more had sav’d me: The unwary sailor thus aghast, The wheeling torrent viewing; ‘Mid circling horrors sinks at last In overwhelming ruin.