George Darley

Lenimina Laborum. 22. On the Death of a Young Girl

Beauty and Virtue crown'd thee,
Death in thy Youth, has found thee,
Thou'rt gone to thy grave
By the soft willow wave,
That hums its sweet circuit around thee.

Heaven's fond tears bedew thee!
Flowers and fresh garlands strew thee!
A pall for thy tomb
From her green-weaving loom
Kind Nature will ever renew thee.

Cheerly the lark sings o'er thee,
Light trip the elves before thee,
Then why should we mourn
When, so far from forlorn.
Thou must smile at the friends who deplore thee?