INVOCATION TO SONG.

SPIRIT of Song! Thou monarch of the mind!
Holding thy sweet dominion o'er mankind;
Fleeting and transient as the summer breeze,
Kissing earth's flowers, and winging to the seas--

Where is thy home?

Thou art where Nature spreads her noblest scene,
And where the ken of man hath rarely been;
Thou art where Fancy wings her wildest flight,
And thy sweet voice breathes in the stilly night—

Thou art where light'nings flash and billows foam; Thou art with exiles from their native home;

Thou art among the dewy flowers at eve,

And where love's vows are pledged, and hearts believe

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Thou art at banquets 'midst the minstrel train,
Waking their harps with an enlivening strain;

Thou art where rosy, mantling wine is poured,

And bright-eyed Mirth laughs round the social board

Thou art among the bridal's virgin throng,

Greeting the chosen one with love-fraught song;
Thou art the lover's aid, to bid arise

His ladye fair, and "ope her beaming eyes"

Thou art with those for whom Joy's cup o'erflows,
And thou can'st bid dim Grief forget her woes;
Thou art where blushing roses brightly bloom,
And thou dost wreath the cypress o'er the tomb-

Each transient, bright creation of the mind,

That gleams and wanes ere e'en its source we find,

Thy magic voice can swift recall to birth,

And leave its glowing transcript upon earth—

The dauntless soul of soaring genius fires
With rich enthusiasm as thy voice inspires;
In thee alone exuberant Fancy teems
With language wild and lofty as her dreams—

Where is thy home?

I know thee, and I love thy faintest sigh,
And love thy loftiest strains of melody—

I lay my young heart's treasures at thy shrine,-
Spirit of Song! I feel thou art divine!

Thy home is Heaven!