Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922)/Absence
ABSENCE
(See also Memory)
Wives in their husbands’ absences grow subtler,
And daughters sometimes run off with the butler.
Where’er I roam, whatever realms to see,
My heart untravelled, fondly turns to thee;
Still to my brother turns, with ceaseless pain,
And drags at each remove a lengthening chain.
In the hope to meet
Shortly again, and make our absence sweet.
Ever absent, ever near;
Still I see thee, still I hear;
Yet I cannot reach thee, dear!
What shall I do with all the days and hours
That must be counted ere I see thy face?
How shall I charm the interval that lowers
Between this time and that sweet time of grace?
cito transit a mente.
But when he (man) shall have been taken from sight, he quickly goes also out of mind.
sometimes (not to speak it profanely) to be present with the Lord.
Absence diminishes little passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and fans a fire.
Oft in the tranquil hour of night,
When stars illume the sky,
I gaze upon each orb of light,
And wish that thou wert by.
Thou art gone from my gaze like a beautiful dream,
And I seek thee in vain by the meadow and stream.
For there’s nae luck about the house;
There’s nae luck at aw;
There’s little pleasure in the house
When our gudeman's awa.
With what a deep devotedness of woe
I wept thy absence—o'er and o'er again
Thinking of thee, still thee, till thought grew pain,
And memory, like a drop that, night and day,
Falls cold and ceaseless, wore my heart away!
Condemned whole years in absence to deplore,
And image charms he must behold no more.
Let no one be willing to speak ill of the absent.
Days of absence, sad and dreary,
Clothed in sorrow's dark array,—
Days of absence, I am weary;
She I love is far away.
All days are nights to see till I see thee,
And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me.
How like a winter hath my absence been
From thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year!
What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen!
What old December's bareness everywhere.
Cassius and Brutus were the more distinguished for that very circumstance that their portraits were absent.
'Tis said that absence conquers love;
But oh! believe it not.
I've tried, alas! its power to prove,
But thou art not forgot.
Since you have waned from us,
Fairest of women!
I am a darkened cage
Songs cannot hymn in.
My songs have followed you,
Like birds the summer;
Ah! bring them back to me,
Swiftly, dear comer!
Seraphim,
Her to hymn.
Might leave their portals;
And at my feet learn
The harping of mortals!