FAREWELL! and oh! if aught of grief Shall mingle with thy last adieu, May it at least afford relief, That those thou leav'st partake it too. Though weeks have pass'd uncounted by, Thy presence has not taught us yet To feel, with thee, satiety; Or part with thee, without regret. But in exact proportion to Our past enjoyments—present pain, Arises, while we bid adieu! The hope that we shall meet again. Is it not meet it thus should be, That light and shade should mingle thus; When we must lose a friend like thee, And thou, awhile, must part from us? Yes, surely.—Nor could friendship ask A stronger test, her power to tell, Than, that it should be felt a task, A painful one, to say farewell! Yet not a painful one @3alone;@1 For our regrets a pledge shall give, That days and hours, too swiftly flown, In cherish'd memory long shall live. Then let our parting hour befit The happy ones that we have spent; Though grave, let grief not darken it With aught like thankless discontent. 'Tis something to have shar'd so much Of joy, that FRIENDS alone can know: 'Tis more to feel we part @3as@1 such, Aye! render'd more than ever so. But oh! it is more soothing still, To feel a fond hope, when we sever, Absence can not affection chill, And we may meet more dear than ever. |