VEX not the Muse with idle prayers,-- br She will not hear thy call; br She steals upon thee unawares, br Or seeks thee not at all. br br Soft as the moonbeams when they sought br Endymion's fragrant bower, br She parts the whispering leaves of thought br To show her full-blown flower. br br For thee her wooing hour has passed, br The singing birds have flown, br And winter comes with icy blast br To chill thy buds unblown. br br Yet, though the woods no longer thrill br As once their arches rung, br Sweet echoes hover round thee still br Of songs thy summer sung. br br Live in thy past; await no more br The rush of heaven-sent wings; br Earth still has music left in store br While Memory sighs and sings.