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Felicia Dorothea Hemans - To My Eldest Brother, With The British Army In Portugal
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HOW many a day, in various hues array`d,
	Bright with gay sun-shine, or eclips`d with shade;
	How many an hour, on silent wing is past,
	O my lov`d brother! since we saw thee last!
	Since then has childhood ripen`d into youth, 
	And Fancy`s dreams have fled from sober truth;
	Her splendid fabricks melting into air,
	As sage Experience wav`d the wand of care!
	Yet still thine absence wakes the tender sigh, 
	And the tear trembles in Affection`s eye!
	When shall me meet again? with glowing ray
	Heart-soothing Hope illumes some future day;
	Checks the sad thought, beguiles the starting tear,
	And sings benignly still—that day is near! 
	She, with bright eye, and soul-bewitching voice,
	Wins us to smile, inspires us to rejoice;
	Tells, that the hour approaches, to restore
	Our cherish`d wanderer to his home once more;
	Where sacred ties his manly worth endear,
	To faith still true, affection still sincere!
	Then the past woes, the future`s dubious lot, 
	In that blest meeting shall be all forgot! 
	And Joy`s full radiance gild that sun-bright hour,
	Tho` all around th` impending storm should low`r!
	Now distant far, amidst th` intrepid host,
	Albion`s firm sons, on Lusitania`s coast;
	(That gallant band, in countless danger try`d,
	Where Glory`s pole-star beams their constant guide
	Say, do thy thoughts, my brother! fondly stray 
	To Cambria`s vales and mountains far away?
	Does fancy oft in busy day-dreams roam,
	And paint the greeting that awaits at home?

	Does memory`s pencil oft, in mellowing hue,
	Dear social scenes, departed joys renew;
	In softer tints delighting to retrace,
	Each tender image and each well-known face?
	Yes! wanderer, yes! thy spirit flies to those,
	Whose love unalter`d, warm and faithful glows!

	Oh! could that love, thro` life`s eventful hours,
	Illume thy scenes and strew thy path with flow`rs!
	Perennial joy should harmonize thy breast,
	No struggle rend thee, and no cares molest!
	But tho` our tenderness can but bestow,
	The wish, the hope, the prayer, averting woe;
	Still shall it live, with pure, unclouded flame,
	In storms, in sun-shine, far and near—the same!
	Still dwell enthron`d within th` unvarying heart,
	And firm, and vital—but with life depart!
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