A Mothers Lament

    a mother's lament

    for the death of her son.

    fate gave the word, the arrow sped,

    and pierc'd my darling's heart;

    and with him all the joys are fled

    life can to me impart.

    by cruel hands the sapling drops,

    in dust dishonour'd laid;

    so fell the pride of all my hopes,

    my age's future shade.

    the mother-linnet in the brake

    bewails her ravish'd young;

    so i, for my lost darling's sake,

    lament the live-day long.

    death, oft i've feared thy fatal blow.

    now, fond, i bare my breast;

    o, do thou kindly lay me low

    with him i love, at rest!