Sad and luckless was the season, 

When to court fair Ellen flew, 

Flew from Love, and Peace, and Reason, Worlds to see of promise new. 

Back she comes - each grace is finer, 

Ev'ry charm that crowds adore, 

All the form divine, diviner - 

But the heart is there no more. 

Oh! 'tis gone, the temper even, 

Careless nature, artless ease! 

All that makes retirement heaven - 

Pleasing, without toil to please, 

Hope no more, sweet lark, to cheer her, 

Vain to her these echoing skies - 

Bloom no more, ye violets, near her, 

Yours are charms she would not prize. 

Ellen! Go where crowds admire thee, Chariots rattle, torches blaze; 

Here our dull content would tire thee, Worthless be our village praise. 

Go! Yet oh, that Thought's soft season Ellen's heart might but restore! 

Hard the task - whate'er the reason - 

Hard the task to love no more.

This Sunday's concert by the Schiller Institute NYC Chorus will include live performances of two Spirituals - "Give me Jesus" and "Run, li'l chillun". https://www.musae.me/sinycchorus/experiences/970/believe-in