Composed 1824.--Published 1827 [The verses, or strayed From hope and promise, self-betrayed, were, I am sorry to say, suggested from apprehensions of the fate of my friend, H.C.,[893] the subject of the verses addressed to _H.C. when six years old_. The piece to "Memory" arose out of similar feelings.[894]--I. F.] Oft have I caught, upon a fitful breeze,[895] Fragments of far-off melodies, With ear not coveting the whole, A part so charmed the pensive soul: While a dark storm before my sight 5 Was yielding, on a mountain height Loose vapours have I watched, that won Prismatic colours from the sun; Nor felt a wish that heaven would show The image of its perfect bow. 10 What need, then, of these finished Strains? Away with counterfeit Remains! An abbey in its lone recess, A temple of the wilderness, Wrecks though they be, announce with feeling 15 The majesty of honest dealing. Spirit of Ossian! if imbound In language thou may'st yet be found, If aught (intrusted to the pen Or floating on the tongues of men, 20 Albeit shattered and impaired) Subsist thy dignity to guard, In concert with memorial claim Of old grey stone, and high-born name That cleaves to rock or pillared cave 25 Where moans the blast, or beats the wave, Let Truth, stern arbitress of all, Interpret that Original, And for presumptuous wrongs atone;-- Authentic words be given, or none! 30 Time is not blind;--yet He, who spares Pyramid pointing to the stars, Hath preyed with ruthless appetite On all that marked the primal flight Of the poetic ecstasy 35 Into the land of mystery. No tongue is able to rehearse One measure, Orpheus! of thy verse;[896] Musæus, stationed with his lyre Supreme among the Elysian quire, 40 Is, for the dwellers upon earth Mute as a lark ere morning's birth,[897] Why grieve for these, though past away The music, and extinct the lay? When thousands, by severer doom, 45 Full early to the silent tomb Have sunk, at Nature's call; or strayed From hope and promise, self-betrayed; The garland withering on their brows; Stung with remorse for broken vows; 50 Frantic--else how might they rejoice? And friendless, by their own sad choice!