Fairest! Put On Awhile.

Fairest! put on awhile         These pinions of light I bring thee,     And o'er thy own green isle         In fancy let me wing thee.     Never did Ariel's plume,         At golden sunset hover     O'er scenes so full of bloom,         As I shall waft thee over.     Fields, where the Spring delays         And fearlessly meets the ardor     Of the warm Summer's gaze,         With only her tears to guard her.     Rocks, thro' myrtle boughs         In grace majestic frowning;     Like some bold warrior's brows         That Love hath just been crowning.     Islets, so freshly fair,         That never hath bird come nigh them,     But from his course thro' air         He hath been won down by them;--[1]     Types, sweet maid, of thee,         Whose look, whose blush inviting,     Never did Love yet see         From Heaven, without alighting.     Lakes, where the pearl lies hid,[2]         And caves, where the gem is sleeping,     Bright as the tears thy lid         Lets fall in lonely weeping.     Glens,[3] where Ocean comes,         To 'scape the wild wind's rancor,     And harbors, worthiest homes         Where Freedom's fleet can anchor.     Then, if, while scenes so grand,         So beautiful, shine before thee,     Pride for thy own dear land         Should haply be stealing o'er thee,     Oh, let grief come first,         O'er pride itself victorious--     Thinking how man hath curst         What Heaven had made so glorious!