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| FAIREST! put on awhile | |
| These pinions of light I bring thee, | |
| And o’er thy own green isle | |
| In fancy let me wing thee. | |
| Never did Ariel’s plume | 5 |
| At golden sunset hover | |
| O’er scenes so full of bloom | |
| As I shall waft thee over. | |
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| Fields where the Spring delays, | |
| And fearlessly meets the ardor | 10 |
| Of the warm Summer’s gaze, | |
| With only tears to guard her. | |
| Rocks through myrtle boughs | |
| In grace majestic frowning, | |
| Like some bold warrior’s brows | 15 |
| That Love hath just been crowning. | |
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| Islets so freshly fair | |
| That never hath bird come nigh them, | |
| But from his course through air | |
| He hath been won down by them,— | 20 |
| Types, sweet maid, of thee, | |
| Whose look, whose blush inviting, | |
| Never did Love yet see | |
| From heaven, without alighting. | |
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| Lakes where the pearl lies hid, | 25 |
| And caves where the gem is sleeping, | |
| Bright as the tears thy lid | |
| Lets fall in lonely weeping. | |
| Glens where Ocean comes, | |
| To ’scape the wild wind’s rancor, | 30 |
| And harbors, worthiest homes | |
| Where Freedom’s fleet can anchor. | |
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| Then, if, while scenes so grand, | |
| So beautiful, shine before thee, | |
| Pride for thy own dear land | 35 |
| Should haply be stealing o’er thee, | |
| O, let grief come first, | |
| O’er pride itself victorious,— | |
| Thinking how man hath curst | |
| What Heaven had made so glorious! | 40 |
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