A Farewell to America

    Adieu， New-England's smiling meads，

    Adieu， th' flow'ry plain：

    I leave thine op'ning charms， O spring，

    And tempt¹ the roaring main.

    II.

    In vain for me the flow'rets rise，

    And boast their gaudy² pride，

    While here beneath the northern skies

    I mourn for health deny'd.

    III.

    Celestial³ maid of rosy⁴ hue⁵，

    Oh let me feel thy reign⁶！

    I languish⁷ till thy face I view，

    Thy vanish'd joys regain⁸.

    IV.

    Susannah mourns， nor can I bear

    To see the crystal shower

    Or mark the tender falling tear

    At sad departure's hour；

    V.

    Not regarding can I see

    Her soul with grief opprest

    But let no sighs， no groans⁹ for me

    Steal from her pensive¹⁰ breast.

    VI.

    In vain the feather'd warblers sing

    In vain the garden blooms

    And on the bosom¹¹ of the spring

    Breathes out her sweet perfumes.

    VII.

    While for Britannia's distant shore

    We weep the liquid plain，

    And with astonish'd eyes explore

    The wide-extended main.

    VIII.

    Lo！ Health appears！ celestial dame¹²！

    Complacent¹³ and serene¹⁴，

    With Hebe's mantle¹⁵ oe'r her frame，

    With soul-delighting mien¹⁶.

    IX.

    To mark the vale where London lies

    With misty¹⁷ vapors¹⁸ crown'd

    Which cloud Aurora's thousand dyes，

    And veil her charms around.

    X.

    Why， Phoebus， moves thy car so slow？

    So slow thy rising ray？

    Give us the famous town to view，

    Thou glorious King of day！

    XI.

    For thee， Britannia， I resign

    New-England's smiling fields；

    To view again her charms divine，

    What joy the prospect¹⁹ yields！

    XII.

    But thou！ Temptation hence away，

    With all thy fatal train，

    Nor once seduce²⁰ my soul away，

    By thine enchanting²¹ strain.

    XIII.

    Thrice happy they， whose heavenly shield

    Secures their souls from harm，

    And fell Temptation on the field

    Of all its pow'r disarms²².