My brothers! whither scattered now?
What fate, what cruel fate could sever
Hands, souls, fast-bound, divided never?
But ye are fled, and fled for ever,
And I am left alone with woe!

The sigh I heave in silence here,
The careless zephyr bears away;
'T is lost in twilight's darkening ray,
'T is veiled in night,—it fades in day,—
It ne'er will reach your listening ear.

Perchance e'en now, while round me roll
Dark storms and misty clouds, e'en now,
Pain's icy sweat upon his brow,
One calls upon his friend, and oh!
Death's wintry curtain wraps his soul.

Then sleep in peace, thou spirit blest!
My spirit seems to cling to thee;
From sorrow to felicity
Wafted, thy bark has passed the sea
Of storms, in joy's calm port to rest.

How long shall absence' misery last?
When, when shall dawn the hour of meeting?
Shall ne'er again the blessed greeting
Of social bliss return?—How fleeting
Its rapture,—'t is for ever past!

Cold, cold,—I feel my heart; delight
Can kindle ne'er its fire again;
My tears flow forth, they flow in vain;
My smiles,—no light those smiles retain;
For what awaked it sinks in night.

Time was, how blessèd to recall
That time, when our hands garlanded
The fairest wreaths of roses red,
And in youth's spring the chorus led
To heaven, the source, the end of all.

Time was, but like a dream it fled!
The hymn,—'t is now a funeral dirge;
The garland,—'t is affliction's scourge;
The dance,—its memories now emerge
Like ghosts that wander midst the dead.

And now the plaint ascends! Appear,
Appear, delightful hours, anew!
Spirit of youth, so fond, so true,
Awake! Suns, once so bright, so few,
Shine,—let illusion's mockery cheer!

But see! the darkness creeps away,—
The clouds disperse, the storm is gone,—
Thy smile returns not, blessèd one!
The mountains see the morning dawn,
To me, alas! there dawns no day.