“Sit down, sad soul”

Bryan Waller Procter (Barry Cornwall) (1787–1874)

SIT down, sad soul, and count

The moments flying;

Come, tell the sweet amount

That ’s lost by sighing!

How many smiles?—a score?

Then laugh, and count no more;

For day is dying!

Lie down, sad soul, and sleep,

And no more measure

The flight of time, nor weep

The loss of leisure;

But here, by this lone stream,

Lie down with us, and dream

Of starry treasure!

We dream: do thou the same;

We love,—forever;

We laugh, yet few we shame,—

The gentle never.

Stay, then, till sorrow dies;

Then—hope and happy skies

Are thine forever!