Early Poems: To D---

In thee, I fondly hop'd to clasp

A friend, whom death alone could sever;

Till envy, with malignant grasp, i

Detach'd thee from my breast for ever.

True, she has forc'd thee from my 'breast',

Yet, in my 'heart', thou keep'st thy seat; ii

There, there, thine image still must rest,

Until that heart shall cease to beat.

And, when the grave restores her dead,

When life again to dust is given,

On 'thy dear' breast I'll lay my head -

Without 'thee! where' would be 'my Heaven?'

February, 1803.

Footnote 1: George John, 5th Earl Delawarr (1791-1869). (See 'note' 2, p. 100; see also lines "To George, Earl Delawarr," pp. 126-128.)

Footnote i:

'But envy with malignant grasp,

Has torn thee from my breast for ever.

Footnote ii: 'But in my heart'.

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