The Farewell

The Farewell

[Probably addressed to his mistress Frederica.]

LET mine eye the farewell say,

That my lips can utter ne’er;

Fain I’d be a man to-day,

Yet’tis hard,oh,hard to bear!

Mournful in an hour like this

Is love’s sweetest pledge，I ween[109]；

Cold upon thy mouth the kiss,

Faint thy fingers’pressure e’en.

Oh what rapture to my heart(https://www.daowen.com)

Used each stolen kiss to bring!

As the violets joy impart,

Gather’d in the early spring.

Now no garlands I entwine,

Now no roses pluck.for thee,

Though’tis springtime[110]，Fanny mine，

Dreary autumn’tis to me!

1771.