TO A FALSE FRIEND

[p146] AWAY, thou false one! thou the destin'd bane
Of all my bliss! -- Yet would I still restrain
The bitter thoughts that falter on my tongue;--
I , that ne'er did, nor wish'd to do, thee wrong:
I , that would willingly have sacrific'd
All that by frail mortality is priz'd,
That unto thee those blessings might belong:
At me thou aim'st the unresisted dart,
And the remorseless arrow sinks into my heart!

False friendship is thy name! -- I know thee well.
How have I suffer'd from that baneful spell
Which 'round my bosom, in a luckless hour,
Thou artfully didst twine! But now thy pow'r
[p146] I heed no more: no more thy falling tears
Can wound my heart with sympathetic fears,
And bid each blooming early prospect lour:
Not e'en thy smiles can any more impart
The balm of consolation to my alter'd heart.

Once did I hope, dup'd by a youthful dream,
That on my future life the soften'd beam
Of thy pure love would shine; that in thy breast
Each secret thought of mine might safely rest;
That in my sorrows thou did'st bear a part,
And all my joys came doubled to thy heart:--
But it was false! -- Yet, be each sigh represt!
Thou art not worthy of my parting tear,
Since to a faithful friend thou could'st be insincere