The Altar
How fondly look'd I on the place,
Assign'd to rites of spousal love,
How saintly seem'd that board of grace,
With Jesus blessing bread above!
'Twas bosom'd in a kindlier air,
Than th' outer realms of care and dole;
A sacred spirit brooded there,
Whose spell-like silence lull'd the soul!
For tho' full oft the accents dear,
Here utter'd, had been falsely fond,
Still they were breath'd and plighted here,
And broken in a place beyond!