Song: 'Rarely, rarely, comest thou'

Rarely, rarely, comest thou,

      Spirit of Delight!

Wherefore hast thou left me now

      Many a day and night?

Many a weary night and day

'Tis since thou art fled away.

How shall ever one like me

      Win thee back again?

With the joyous and the free

      Thou wilt scoff at pain.

Spirit false! thou hast forgot

      All but those who need thee not.

As a lizard with the shade

Of a trembling leaf,

Thou with sorrow art dismayed;

Even the sighs of grief

Reproach thee, that thou art not near,

And reproach thou wilt not hear.

Let me set my mournful ditty

To a merry measure;

Thou wilt never come for pity,

Thou wilt come for pleasure;

Pity then will cut away

Those cruel wings, and thou wilt stay.

I love all that thou lo vest,

Spirit of Delight!

The fresh Earth in new leaves dressed,

And the starry night:

Autumn evening, and the morn

When the golden mists are born.

I love snow, and all the forms

Of the radiant frost;

I love waves, and winds, and storms,

Everything almost

Which is Nature's, and may be

Untainted by man's misery.

I love tranquil solitude,

And such society

As is quiet, wise, and good

Between thee and me

What difference? but thou dost possess

The things I seek, not love them less.

VIIII love Love—though he has wings,

And like light can flee,

But above all other things,

Spirit, I love thee—

Thou art love and life! Oh, come,

Make once more my heart thy home.