WHEN Pleasure gilds thy passing hours,
And Hope enwreaths her fairy flowers,
And Love appears with playful hand
To steal from Time his falling sand,
Oh, then I'll smile with thee.

When nature's beauties bless thy sight,
And yield a thrill of soft delight;
When morning glories greet thy gaze,
Or veiling twilight still delays,
Then I'll admire with thee.

When the far-clustering stars unroll
Their banner'd lights from pole to pole,
Or when the moon glides queenly by,
Looking in silence on thine eye,
I'll gaze on Heaven with thee.

When music with her unsought lay
Awakes the household holiday,
Or Sabbath notes in concert strong
Lift up the sacred wings of song,
I'll sing those strains with thee.

But should misfortune hovering nigh
Wrest from thy aching heart a sigh,
Or, with an aspect chill and drear,
Despondence draw the unbidden tear,
Oh, then, I'll weep with thee.

Should poverty with withering hand
Wave o'er thy head his care-wrought wand,
And ope within thy soul the void
That haunts a mind with hopes destroy'd,
I'll share that pang with thee.

When youth and youthful pleasures fly,
And earth is fading on thine eye,
When life has lost its early charm,
And all thy wish is holy calm,
I'll love that calm with thee.

And when unerring death, at last,
Comes rushing on time's fatal blast,
And naught (not e'en my love) can save
Thy form from the encroaching grave,
I'll share that grave with thee.

And when thy spirit soars above,
Wrapt in the foldings of God's love,
Is it too much to ask of Heaven,
That some low seat may there be given,
Where I can bow near thee?