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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  468. Memory

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

Oliver Goldsmith. 1728–1774

468. Memory

O MEMORY, thou fond deceiver, 
  Still importunate and vain, 
To former joys recurring ever, 
  And turning all the past to pain: 
 
Thou, like the world, th’ oppress’d oppressing,         5
  Thy smiles increase the wretch’s woe: 
And he who wants each other blessing 
  In thee must ever find a foe.