1
The moment’s come with sorrows rife;
Adieu, sweet Maid, adieu!
Now shall I drag a weary life
Far, far, from love and you?
No more my days will joyous be,
Content I shall be never;
For ah! who knows if ever
Thou will remember me?
2
Permit thy memory a trace
Of my true love to wear;
Nor let new scenes the thought efface,
That hence my peace you bear.
In mind I still shall follow thee —
From thee I’ll be never —
Yet ah! who knows if ever
Thou will remember me!
3
With lonely step in joyless land
I sadly now shall rove,
And from the woods and rocks demand
Where moves the maid I love:
Still shall I sigh and call on thee,
Forget thee shall I never;
And thou — who knows if ever
Thou will remember me?
4
Then shall I hasten once agen,
Each much lov’d spot to see
Where once I happy liv’d — for then,
Dear Maid! I liv’d with thee.
Yet here shall busy memory
Peace from my poor heart sever,
For who can tell if ever
Thou will remember me?
5
Once near that spring, fir’d by disdain,
I durst thy pow’r defy:
And there, thy smiles restor’d again,
New rais’d the suppliant sigh;
Here liv’d on hope once-happy me;
There, hope and I did sever:
Alas! who knows if ever
Thou will remember me!
6
And when thou glad’st another land,
Far distant many a mile,
Of suitors what a num’rous band,
Shall strive to win thy smile!
’Mid tender plaints and jocund glee
Ceasing to court thee never,
Ah! who can tell if ever
Thou will remember me!
7
Think then upon the pleasing pains
Thou’st wak’d within my breast;
Think — hopeless long I wore thy chains
Ere by thy pity blest;
Think on this parting sad, that me
From her I love doth sever;
Think... ah! who knows if ever
Thou will remember me!