< Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900.djvu
This page needs to be proofread.

CHARLES LAMB

The Old Familiar Faces

T HAVE had playmates, I have had companions,

  • In my days of childhood, in my joyful school-days

All, all are gone, the old familiar faces.

I have been laughing, I have been carousing, Drinking late, sitting late, with my bosom cronies All, all are gone, the old familiar faces.

I loved a Love once, fairest among women : Closed are her doors on me, I must not see her All, all are gone, the old familiar faces.

I have a friend, a kinder friend has no man : Like an ingrate, I left my friend abruptly; Left him, to muse on the old familiar faces.

Ghost-like I paced round the haunts of my childhood, Earth seem'd a desert I was bound to traverse, Seeking to find the old familiar faces.

Friend of my bosom, thou more than a brother, Why wert not thou born in my father's dwelling? So might we talk of the old familiar faces

How some they have died, and some they have left me, And some are taken from me ; all are departed All, all are gone, the old familiar faces.

�� �

    This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.