The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows

You have gone The dark journey that leaves no returning It's fruitless for me to mourn you But who can help mourning? To think of life That did laugh on your face In the beautiful past Left so desolate now When youth seemed immortal So sweet it did weave Heaven's halo around you Earth hopes to deceive You were the fairest and dearest When many were fair to my heart You were nearest The year has its winter As well as its May The sweetest leave us And the fairest decay The nearer the fountain More pure the stream flows To think of life That did laugh on your face In the beautiful past Left so desolate now When youth seemed immortal So sweet it did weave Heaven's halo around you Around you Earth hopes to deceive Around you Around you The nearer the fountain More pure the stream flows