If you wish me to weep, you must first show grief yourself.

If you wish me to weep, you must first show grief yourself.

Thank God for grace,
Ye who weep only! If, as some have done,
Ye grope tear-blinded in read more

Thank God for grace,
Ye who weep only! If, as some have done,
Ye grope tear-blinded in a desert place
And touch but tombs,--look up! Those tears will run
Soon in long rivers down the lifted face,
And leave the vision clear for stars and sun.

And the tear that is wiped with a little address,
May be follow'd perhaps by a smile.

And the tear that is wiped with a little address,
May be follow'd perhaps by a smile.

For Beauty's tears are lovelier than her smile.

For Beauty's tears are lovelier than her smile.

Nothing dries sooner than a tear.
[Lat., Nihil enim lacryma citius arescit.]

Nothing dries sooner than a tear.
[Lat., Nihil enim lacryma citius arescit.]

What gem hath dropp'd, and sparkles o'er his chain?
The tear most sacred, shed for other's pain,
read more

What gem hath dropp'd, and sparkles o'er his chain?
The tear most sacred, shed for other's pain,
That starts at once--bright pure--from Pity's mine,
Already polish'd by the hand divine!

Weep no more, nor sigh, nor groan,
Sorrow calls no time that's gone:
Violets plucked the sweetest read more

Weep no more, nor sigh, nor groan,
Sorrow calls no time that's gone:
Violets plucked the sweetest rain
Makes not fresh nor grow again.

And weep the more, because I weep in vain.

And weep the more, because I weep in vain.

Oh! too convincing--dangerously dear--
In woman's eye the unanswerable tear!
That weapon of her weakness she can read more

Oh! too convincing--dangerously dear--
In woman's eye the unanswerable tear!
That weapon of her weakness she can wield,
To save, subdue--at once her spear and shield.