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A Temple to Friendship

Thomas Moore

"A Temple to Friendship;" said Laura, enchanted,
"I'll build in this garden, -- the thought is divine!"
Her temple was built and she now only wanted
An image of Friendship to place on the shrine.

She flew to a sculptor, who set down before her
A Friendship, the fairest his art could invent;
But so cold and so dull, that the youthful adorer
Saw plainly this was not the idol she meant.

"Oh! never," she cried, "could I think of enshrining
An image whose looks are so joyless and dim; --
But yon little god, upon roses reclining,
We'll make, if you please, Sir, a Friendship of him."

So the bargain was struck; with the little god laden
She joyfully flew to her shrine in the grove:
"Farewell," said the sculptor, "you're not the first maiden
Who came but for Friendship and took away Love."

(Spanish Air)
National Airs.

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