If Sometimes in the Haunts of Men

1. 1If sometimes in the haunts of men
2. 2Thine image from my breast may fade,
3. 3The lonely hour presents again
4. 4The semblance of thy gentle shade:
5. 5And now that sad and silent hour
6. 6Thus much of thee can still restore,
7. 7And sorrow unobserved may pour
8. 8The plaint she dare not speak before.

1. 9Oh, pardon that in crowds awhile
2. 10I waste one thought I owe to thee,
3. 11And self-condemned, appear to smile,
4. 12Unfaithful to thy memory:
5. 13Nor deem that memory less dear,
6. 14That then I seem not to repine;
7. 15I would not fools should overhear
8. 16One sigh that should be wholly thine.

1. 17If not the Goblet pass unquaffed,
2. 18It is not drained to banish care;
3. 19The cup must hold a deadlier draught
4. 20That brings a Lethe for despair.
5. 21And could Oblivion set my soul
6. 22From all her troubled visions free,
7. 23I'd dash to earth the sweetest bowl
8. 24That drowned a single thought of thee.

1. 25For wert thou vanished from my mind,
2. 26Where could my vacant bosom turn?
3. 27And who would then remain behind
4. 28To honour thine abandoned Urn?
5. 29No, no--it is my sorrow's pride
6. 30That last dear duty to fulfil;
7. 31Though all the world forget beside,
8. 32'Tis meet that I remember still.

1. 33For well I know, that such had been
2. 34Thy gentle care for him, who now
3. 35Unmourned shall quit this mortal scene,
4. 36Where none regarded him, but thou:
5. 37And, oh! I feel in that was given
6. 38A blessing never meant for me;
7. 39Thou wert too like a dream of Heaven,
8. 40For earthly Love to merit thee.