When through life unblessed we rove

When through life unblessed we rove

losing all that made life dear

Should some notes we used to love

in days of boyhood, meet our ear

Oh! how welcome breathes the strain,

wakening thoughts that long have slept.

Kindling former smiles again

in faded eyes that long have wept.

Music, oh how faint, how weak,

language fades before thy spell,

why should Feeling ever speak,

when thou canst breathe her soul so well?

Friendship's balmy words may feign,

Love's are even more false than they..

Oh! Tis only music's strain

Can sweetly smoothe, and not betray.