Love And The Sun-Dial

By Thomas Moore

Young Love found a Dial once in a dark shade,
Where man ne'er had wander'd nor sunbeam play'd;
Why thus in darkness lie? whisper'd young Love;
Thou, whose gay hours in sunshine should move?
I ne'er, said the Dial, have seen the warm sun,
So noonday and midnight to me, Love, are one.

Then Love took the Dial away from the shade,
And placed her where heaven's beam warmly play'd,
There she reclined, beneath Love's gazing eye,
While, all mark'd with sunshine, her hours flew by.
Oh, how, said the Dial, can any fair maid,
That's born to be shone upon, rest in the shade?

But night now comes on, and the sunbeam's o'er,
And Love stops to gaze on the Dial no more.
Then cold and neglected, while bleak rain and winds
Are storming around her, with sorrow she finds
That Love had but number'd a few sunny hours,
Then left the remainder to darkness and showers!