Genius And Friends

When the star of good fortune is rising,
  And seems to the zenith to soar,
How tenderly friends will be prizing
  The beauties forgotten before;
      Oh! Genius will look very bright
      In the blaze of Prosperity's light!

But let the dimm'd planet be setting
  Below the horizon in cloud,
Right soon will your friends be forgetting
  The gifts they so frankly allow'd;
      Ah! Genius can show very slight
      In the gloom of Adversity's night!

Yet none the less glorious and holy
  Is shining that sun of the soul,
Let Fortune be lofty or lowly,
  And Friendship rejoice or condole;
      For Genius must claim as his right
      True homage by day and by night!