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.

And weep the more, because I weep in vain.

And weep the more, because I weep in vain.

Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of Earth, read more

Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of Earth, overlaying our hard hearts.

No radiant pearl, which crested Fortune wears,
No gem that twinkling hangs from Beauty's wars.
Not the read more

No radiant pearl, which crested Fortune wears,
No gem that twinkling hangs from Beauty's wars.
Not the bright stars which Night's blue arch adorn,
Nor rising suns that gild the vernal morn,
Shine with such lustre as the tear that flows
Down Virtue's manly cheek for others' woes.

Tearless grief bleeds inwardly.

Tearless grief bleeds inwardly.

Ope the sacred source of sympathetic tears.

Ope the sacred source of sympathetic tears.

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.

We look through gloom and storm-drift
Beyond the years:
The soul would have no rainbow
read more

We look through gloom and storm-drift
Beyond the years:
The soul would have no rainbow
Hard the eyes no tears.

For Beauty's tears are lovelier than her smile.

For Beauty's tears are lovelier than her smile.