A Song: “How hardly I conceal’d my tears”

HOW hardly I conceal’d my tears!

How oft did I complain!

When many tedious days my fears

Told me I lov’d in vain.

But now my joys as mild are grown,

And hard to be conceal’d:

Sorrow may make a silent moan,

But joy will be reveal’d.

I tell it to the bleating flocks,

To every stream and tree,

And bless the hollow murmuring rocks,

For echoing back to me.

Thus you may see with how much joy

We want, we wish, believe;

’Tis hard such passion to destroy,

But easie to deceive.