As Slow Our Ship.

As slow our ship her foamy track         Against the wind was cleaving,     Her trembling pennant still looked back         To that dear isle 'twas leaving.     So loathe we part from all we love.         From all the links that bind us;     So turn our hearts as on we rove,         To those we've left behind us.     When, round the bowl, of vanished years         We talk, with joyous seeming,--     With smiles that might as well be tears,         So faint, so sad their beaming;     While memory brings us back again         Each early tie that twined us,     Oh, sweet's the cup that circles then         To those we've left behind us.     And when, in other climes, we meet         Some isle, or vale enchanting,     Where all looks flowery, wild, and sweet,         And naught but love is wanting;     We think how great had been our bliss,         If heaven had but assigned us     To live and die in scenes like this,         With some we've left behind us!     As travellers oft look back at eve,         When eastward darkly going,     To gaze upon that light they leave         Still faint behind them glowing,--     So, when the close of pleasure's day         To gloom hath near consigned us,     We turn to catch one fading ray         Of joy that's left behind us.