494. Song—Farewell thou stream that winding flows
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AREWELL, thou stream that winding flows Around Eliza’s dwelling;O mem’ry! spare the cruel thoes Within my bosom swelling.Condemn’d to drag a hopeless chain And yet in secret languish;To feel a fire in every vein, Nor dare disclose my anguish. Love’s veriest wretch, unseen, unknown, I fain my griefs would cover;The bursting sigh, th’ unweeting groan, Betray the hapless lover.I know thou doom’st me to despair, Nor wilt, nor canst relieve me;But, O Eliza, hear one prayer— For pity’s sake forgive me! The music of thy voice I heard, Nor wist while it enslav’d me;I saw thine eyes, yet nothing fear’d, Till fears no more had sav’d me:Th’ unwary sailor thus, aghast The wheeling torrent viewing,’Mid circling horrors sinks at last, In overwhelming ruin.
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