Class. Book. , L <61— / 3UL- THE POETICAL WORKS OF THE LATE AMOS LOVE, Esq. Abundat diilcibus vitiis. : m P^€>- i -^r rr^^^^ ^g LONDON : JOHN LOWNDES, 36, BOW STREET. TnLDCCCXXIV. 1 9% 4r TO THE EDITOR OF THE POETICAL WORKS OF THE LATE THOMAS LITTLE, E^Q, THESE POEMS ARE RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, BY THE EDITOR. PREFACE BY THE EDITOR. A Preface, now-a-days, is almost as re- quisite a prelude to a new work, as a symphony to a song. Not that I think them always neces- sary ; for, in fact, nine times out of ten, they are " flat, stale, and unprofitable'' — or to use a simile, resemble the disagreable commencement of a journey into a pleasant country, namely, the heavy drag of your post-chaise over the stones before you get on level ground, after which you roll on smoothly and pleasantly enough. In some cases, however, there is an absolute call for pre- fatory matter. For instance, in the present; as I am well assured my readers (more especially should the contents please them) would feel dis- appointed were I to neglect giving them some account of their author, the which I shall do as b VI PREFACE. concisely as possible : — for as " brevity is the soul of wit," so, in my opinion, is it the beauty of a preface. Amos Love, the author of the principal part of the following poems, was the youngest son of Alfred Love, Esq. of Pembroke Hall, Somerset- shire. At the age of sixteen, his father, after having expended a little fortune in private tutors at home, sent him to Biasen-Nose College, Ox- ford, where the writer of this first met and formed with him an intimacy and friendship which lasted to the end of his life. But a short period elapsed before I discovered that my friend was not only an admirable scholar, but likewise a tolerable poet; and the principal portion of the following trifles were, I believe, composed during the first six months of his re- sidence at Brasen-Nose. As I thought many of them possessed great merit, I ventured to ask whether he intended, after a careful revisal, to publish them. " By no means," was his reply. " The partial approbation of indulgent friends is too apt to intoxicate young authors, and make PREFACE. VII thenj fancy they are going to carry the applause of the world by storm. But I am not one so easily hoodwinked ; nor shall their partiality make me blind to the faults I know they pos- sess ; and if ever they go forth to the world, it shall be when I am no longer in the " land of the living," when the praise or dispraise of that world will be alike indifferent. For, to say the truth, I should never be sufficiently stoical to follow Irnlac's * advice to a poet, namely, " To content himself with the slow progress of his name ; contemn the applause of his own time, and commit his claims to the justice of posterity." Now, posterity may be a very upright lady, and w De mortuis nil nisi bonum" is a very pretty aphorism ; but I much doubt whether, after hav- ing quitted this benevolent sphere, I should find it, on a spiritual revisit doing justice to a " departed shade." Such just reasoning, in so young an author, I own, surprised me ; and I was inclined to think this apparent indifference to fame, and self-confession of poetic faults, was * Rasselas, Vlil PREFACE. assumed : but on resuming the subject a short time after, I was convinced of his earnestness ; I there- fore possessed myself of his choicest morceaux, with the permission to be his hereafter editor. The ensuing vacation separated us, but not for long ; a week had scarce elapsed since his de- parture, when I received a pressing invitation to visit Pembroke Hall, the which I accepted* Nor had I cause to regret so doing ; for 1 there spent the pleasantest time of my whole life. The family consisted of the old Squire, his daughter Emily, Miss Deborah, his maiden sis- ter, and my friend Amos. His elder brother, Frank, was with his regiment in India. The Squire was one of those good natured beings who always look on the sunny side of human nature, and make you in good-humour not only with them, but, nolens volens, with yourself. Miss Emily was a charming, accomplished girl, of a sweet fifteen, 5 ' who sang delightfully, and played the harp & ravir. My Aunt Deborah was what one rarely meets with, an agreeable old maid ; an admirable housewife; and into whose good graces you were certain to get, by consult- PREFACE. ing her on the mysteries of pickles and preserves. As to my friend Amos, he was the life and soul of society ; amusing without effort, and witty without affectation. After having passed a most delightful month there, we returned to Ox- ford, where we studied together the remainder of the year, at the conclusion of which, my friend set out on a tour through France and Italy, with the view of meeting his brother on his return from India. Our correspondence continued with punctu- ality for a period of two years. My friend's let- ters were filled with enthusiastic descriptions of the countries through which he travelled, of the impression made on his mind by the aspect of na- ture, both in her grand and sylvan costume, at once exemplifying the words of the sweetest bard that ever swept lyre : — " Nothing is lost on Kim who sees With an eye that feeling gave : For him there's a story in every breeze, And a picture in every wave V But he was destined not long to enjoy these X PREFACE. pleasures. A month had nearly elapsed since I last addressed him, and I was anticipating the pleasure of a reply, when I received a letter from his brother, briefly disclosing the sudden death of my young friend, occasioned by a fall near the celebrated cascade at Tivoli. To say that I felt distressed at the event were feebly to ex- press my sentiments. I was sincerely grieved ; our early acquaintance, his amiable qualities, and promising talent, all tended to encrease my regret. Some few years have now elapsed since the circumstance took place, during which period I have often determined on publishing his poems, and have as often forsaken the design. At length, however, I have " screwed my courage to the sticking place," and now send them into the world with all their imperfections on their head. There are, doubtless, in the collection many morceaux which the circumspect reader may at first be inclined to condemn ; but the youthful age at which they were written, will, I trust, soften his severity. PREFACE. XI The erudite reader, likewise, will discover that he has occasionally borrowed from authors in other languages besides his own. But his cen- sure will considerably abate when he reflect? that Mr. L. only followed the example of many of his cotemporaries in that respect; as also, that the like misdemeanors are, now-a days, regarded rather as petty -larcenies than capital crimes ! Should, however, the powerful arguments I have already adduced fail in disarmingthe critic of his severity, I have still one in reserve, which I think will excite his leyity, namely : — That the author is now alike insensible to his censure or applause. It may, however, happen, [and the learned Johnson has solemnly asserted that " such things" are not improbable], that his ghost may hover near the birth-place of Reviews, Magazines, etcetera; so, pray let him find the world, on his " spiritual revisit," a little more charitable than when he left it, and thereby con- vince him of the truth of the maxim :— De mortals nil nisi bosnim R, J. R. Xll PREFACE. It is necessary to state that, in order to form a complete volume, the Editor has taken the liberty of inserting some few additional poems, part of which are the productions of esteemed friends of the Editor, the rest are by the Editor himself. CONTENTS. Page To ', with a manuscript copy of the following poems 1 To my lute — ''Say, gentle lute, doyounot feel my hand" 4 Stanzas — " What means this pleasing melancholy" . 5 Advice to Julia — " Would you win a worthy heart" . 7 Song — " I swear I scarce can guide the rein"' . . 8 Love and Marriage — " Love's a pretty toy, I own" . 9 To , " Had any other face that frown" . 11 Song — " When sleep calls my charmer away" . . 13 Arithmetic — " Sophia, one day, in a fanciful mood" . 15 Song — " O fie ! pretty dear, quit this whimpering and stuff" ....... 17 Anacreontic — " Alas ! why weeps that tender eye" . 18 To the moon — " Fair regent of the cloudless sky" . 19 The E-Ose — " Sweet offspring of the tears of Aurora" 20 To -, " Fairest idol of my heart" . .21 To , " Ah ! me, how my heart is as cold as the snow" ....... 22 Ode — " Virgins, be not always coy" . . .23 To Laura, weeping — " Oh charming nymph of sloe- black eye" ....... 24 L'Embarras du Choix — ' ' My choice would have fallen on Kitty" . 25 Mary — " If reason could the heart control" . . 27 To Rosa— " Ah, Rosa ! shall thy heart" . . .29 I he Accusation — " And does my Rosa still adore"' . 50 VI CONTENTS. Epigram — " Unusual pains my bosom move" . . 32 Song — " O Love ! O soul- distracting boy !" . .33 Moonlight on the Ocean — " On the deck of the slow- sailing vessel, alone" .34 Henry and Ellen ; a Tale — " The sun had sunk behind the hill" 35 Roslin Castle, a Tale of other Times . . .42 Epigram — " That a woman can tongueless discourse" 44 To ■ , " Delicious girl! just turned fifteen" . 45 Song — " T'other morning I met little Kitty" . . 46 Chanson — " J'allois chez Hose hier au soir" . . 47 On Fruits and Flowers, made of Goose Feathers . 49 Stanzas — " Shall sorrow's tear unpitied fall" . • 50 Ballad — " Maria, sweet Maria fair" . , . . 51 Ballad — " True love will never chill" . . . .53 Stanzas — " The snowy plumage of the swan" . . 54 Ode to Love — " King of wily dimples, dart" . . 55 To Eliza — " When o'er that angel face I gaze" . . 56 Impromptu, To — -, " Thrill' d by the subtle song from Julia's lip" ...... 57 The seven capital sins. ...... 58 Song — ''Desire! thou tyrant of the heart" . . 63 Stanzas — " In youth's blooming spring ev'ry chaplet's a crown" ........ 64 The Loves of Henri Quatre and the Fair GabrieJle . 65 The lucky Fair — " Two wanton Cupids took their stands" 82 Song — " Young Love one day a roving went" . . 83 Stanzas—" Sweet, on the mountain top" . . .84 Chanson— "Des refus d'une bergere" . . 85 Impromptu, To , " The bee of every fragrant flower" ........ 86 Stanzas—" Hastthou ne'er mark'd the languid smile" 87 To Lydia— -" Say, cruel, couldst thou break a heart"' . 88 Song-—" Soft is the glow of Summer Gale" . 90 To , " The young rose that opes to the breeze" 91 CONTENTS. Vll To Airs. , " From whence, Louisa, comes the tire" 92 The Definition--- " In the list of the Gods they place Love*' 93 Romance— " Oh. Selma dear ! let not thy bright tears flow" 94 Serenade—" O soft is the breeze" . . . .95 Song—" And canst thou, Agnes dear, forget . . 96 Song—" Sure Love is the dream of the soul'"' . . 97 Lines written at a Waterfall ..... 99 To — , sleeping—" In vain, in vain, by sleep you strive" * 100 The Thermometer of Gallantry . . . .101 The Game of Love— -" With am'rous look and wanton air" 102 To Julia's Pillow—" Reveal, reveal thy tender secrets" 103 To , "Lady, does it grieve thee, tell me" . . 105 The Age for Love—-" Fifteen! oh the charming age, Kate" 107 The Rose—" The Rose's age is but a day" . . 108 To Mrs. Air— " Yes ! I am lost ! by those bright eyes" 109 Song—" Dear Phillis, lay by all this folly of art" . Ill Song—" While in thy sweet bonds I languish" . . 115 To the Butterfly—-" Little fly, thou merry thing" . 114 Anacreontique— " Sweet little chicken ! urchin sly" . 116 Lovers' Vows—" By the smile that plays around thy lip" .118 Ode—" Come, let us pleasure's maze pursue" . .119 Lines address'd to her bed, by Laura . . .121 Song—" In vain from thy glances, oh ! beauty, I fly" *119 Song—" What is the brightest eye that shines ?" . *121 Eastern Song-—" When last we parted on the shore" 124 Ballad-—" How sweet were the evenings of love" 125 Farewell to love— " I feel the transient passion past" 126 Evening—-" Lo ! Hesper from his coral wave" . . 128 Paradise Lost-—" Ah ! from truth and love betray'd" 129 VUl CONTENTS. A wish—" Ah ! were it but my happy lot' 5 . . 133 Friendship—" How blest is he whose happy mind" 134 Stanzas—" Ye violets droop, thou rose no longer bloom" . . . . . . . . . 135 To a lady—" The rose which boasts so rich a dye" . 137 Lines— To be engraved on the tomb-stone of an only daughter— "Tho' the tree of my life" . . . 139 Stanzas— "Softly blows the summer gale" . . 140 The Seasons— A fragment ..... 142 Sonnet—" Thro' hazel copse oft, studious, let me roam" 144 Stanzas-—" Those evening bells ! those evening bells" 146 Farewell to Poesy-—" Adieu, sweet pipe, thy strain is o'er" 14& POEMS. TO WITH A MANUSCRIPT COPY OF THE FOLLOWING POEMs. YOU may remember, love, one day, When on your breast I thoughtful lay, You asked what was't engaged my mind. And said — " I deem it most unkind, " In such a happy hour as this, " That you should think of aught but bliss. "- I answered quick — u Nay, don't reprove — " Nor fancy I am cold to love ; " I was but pond'ring what should be " The subject of my minstrelsy : B 2 POEMS. As you well know that, in my trances, I often give Miss Muse some glances ; " And as we kiss, compose a sonnet a • About it, at it, and upon it V " But now, she's ta'en a sober turn : " To write an Epic now I burn : " So straight at one her skill Pll try \" " An Epic? Psha!" was your reply, " I hate the gaudy song that flows " Naught but metre at the close ! te And with equal rage, I hate, " Epic pedants lofty prate ! " But I love the glowing strain, " Wildly rapid, sweetly plain ! (i Such as rolPd from Ovid's tongue, " Or more sweet Catullus sung ! " Besides, the rage for lofty song " Is past, among the buying throng : " And nothing now but glowing strains " Will recompence the Author's pains ! " So, if success and gain you'd meet, " E'en let your lays be short and sweet \" " But, hold ! the Critics J — won't they chide- • And whip my muse ?" — I quick replied. POEMS d •• — And if they should — 'twill do no harm ; - For should they style your lays too warm, u That very fault for which you're chid, u Will with the world act as a charm, - Who always read what they're forbid ! " Then, if success and gain you'd meet, " E'en let your lays be short and sweet !" Your sophistry, I scarce need add, succeeded ; With me, I fear, it ever will ! So, with my am'rous grey goose-quill. And Cupid's kind assistance, soon the deed did ! Accept the lay — to you its birth it owes : Good night — sweet dreams — and soft repose ! POEMS. TO MY LUTE. SAY, gentle lute, do you not feel my hand More glowing- with celestial fires, When beauty's glances bright the song command, When love the thrilling pang inspires? Say, feel you not the bounding heart Amid your quivering chords to play, Panting, a broken sigh impart, And tremble thro' the tender lay ? Say, do not all my pulses match thy strings, When rapture joins, and heavenly Celia sings ? POKMS. STANZAS. WHAT means this pleasing* melancholy, What, my soul, can move thee so ? — Well I know the pensive folly, Yet in vain I boast to know ! W r hat can reason's shield, tho' steady, Against gentler love prevail ? Ah ! I feel his shafts already, Wing'd with transports they assail ! How my trembling bosom dances, How my pulses wildly beat ! So divine my angel's glances, They can render torment sweet. Now, fond hope, celestial warm ! Bids me breathe my tender prayer : Soon, too soon, the fond alarm, Kill'd by scorn and cold despair ! POEMS. Ah ! sure in Mary's frame excelling, Centres, too, a soul complete ; Sure in such a heavenly dwelling-, Heavenly pity finds a seat. Then, a vaunt unquiet trouble, Lonely musing, latent care ; You but make affliction double, Mary's tender as she's fair. POEMS. ADVICE TO JULIA WOULD you win a worthy heart, And win to keep it still the same ; Use all nature and no art- Art can ne'er the breast inflame. The rolling eye, the lip demure, May catch a fop, a fool, a beau ; But native innocence, secure, From beauty's shield directs the blow POEMS. SONG. I swear I scarce can guide the rein Of all my stubborn passions, When Sylvia comes with all her train Of fancies, modes, and fashions. Camelion-like, she varies still, From grace to grace removing ; Ah, love ! had Cymon but his will, He soon would change his roving. TOEMS. LOVE AND MARRIAGE. LOVE'S a pretty toy, I own ; Marriage is a full grown evil : Love's a bastard-kind of god : Marriage is the very devil ! Then, Susan, look not so demure at Courtship, which you deem uncivil, Kiss, and never mind the curate ! Hymen, as the Grecians tell, Was a grim torch-bearing fellow ; The sullen lamplighter of hell, Clad in rags of sickly yellow : — Heed not what sage grandames mutter, Or what seeming prudes may tell you, He often leaves us in the gutter ! c 10 POEMS. Cupid, as the Grecians say, Was a merry grinning- urchin ; Never went to cant and pray, Or shew his little nose a church in : — Then, prithee, coy one, draw the curtain, Nor fear, so pale, you're left the lurch in — We have light enough for sporting ! POEMS. 11 TO Had any other face that frown, I soon would lay my torments down ; But so divine each haughty air, On that sweet brow a frown is fair ! As erst, o'er Eden's blissful hoard, Defensive, wav'd the flaming sword ; So, guardian scorns stand lowering by The precincts of that heav'nly eye ! Yet, when the demon tempter (lew, Each seraph sentry fled it too ; And Adam, on a desert plain, Nor pleasure knew, nor lively pain. Still bend thy cold disdain on me, A lurking smile I fondly see Beneath that awful covert laid, For love can animate the shade ! 12 POEMS. At least, oh ! let my trembling sense Still, hoping*, hang in sweet suspense ; Hope may each angry pride remove, But fixed despair is death to love ! POEMS. 13 SONG. When sleep calls my charmer away. And all the bright tumult is o'er, 1 number the glances she gave, I number, and sigh for yet more ! How fond the first lover, how blest ! No rival could torture or grieve ; Of her fears, of her wishes possest ; Dear Adam was monarch of Eve ! But lo ! when a second drew nigh, Tho' Satan himself was to woo, The conquest attracted her eye, For even the devil made — two! Thus, should some gay coxcomb appear, My truth and my numbers were vain : Not the song of each silver-ton'd sphere Could move her to pity my pain ! 14 POEMS. Can I love one so triHingly weak ? Can falsehood have beauties to move ? My reason refuses to speak, But passion gilcb over the sin ! POEMS. 15 ARITHMETIC. Sophia, one day, in a fanciful mood, Arithmetic wanted to try : And as Love's a clever young* Master of Arts, He was not at a loss to comply. So he gave little Sophy a lesson : She play'd very well her own part ; It made on her mind such impression, That she very soon learnt it by heart ! The method he took was quite simple : He gave little Soph kisses three, Which Sophy returned on the instant, Resolv'd from mistake to be free ! Of these same kisses given and taken Each kept a most rigid account : And Love, of the joint calculation. Offer'd Sophy the total amount! 16 POEMS. His wonderful progress applauding*, To his pupil, the artful young swain, Resolv'd not to leave her the lurch in. The second rule 'gan to explain. He pass'd over it tho' somewhat lightly ; To subtract Love is not over fond. On the third tho' he dwelt not so slightly ; For that was the end of their bond. To multiply he was so eager !— That to calculate now was in vain ; So to give him all without counting, Little Sophy found out was most plain ! POEMS. SONG. fie! pretty dear, quit this whimpering and stuffV Those eyes were not made to be shadow'd with tears ; 1 love, I adore you, — sure that is enough, — So dry up those pearls and smile thro' your fears> The jewel you've lost, and affirm I have ta'en, And which cost me such pains to procure ; Believe me, will never be miss'd by the swain Who by wedlock your hand shall secure. So dry up your tears, my sweet pretty Fan, And rely on this truth, should you wed ; — You are not the first girl, since creation began, That unjewelVd to church has been led ! 18 POEMS, ANACREONTIC, Alas ! why weeps that tender eye, Why heaves the passion-freighted sigh t Those tears will taint my Delia's breast, Those tears disturb thy Damon's rest. O let not fickle chance below Dash with sad mist thy purple glow ; Dispel that pensive frown severe, Sure Angels cannot suffer here ! The drooping pleasures wait thy glance. Again to lead the lively dance ; The sullen cares that sentry stand, Within thy rosy dimples' cell, Aw r ait the absolute command, And, pitying, long to bid farewell. Then press with ruby lip the glass, Let mirth and sprightly frolic pass ; The shades of envious grief remove That form was made alone for love MS. 10 TO THE MOON. Fair regent of the cloudless sky, Thy silver tresses, loosely flowing, And thy beauty-beaming e^e, Set my raptured heart a glowing ! Yet, spite of all mad poets say About thy charms, profusely panning, Thy graces in each sylvan lay, With epithets deduced so quaint in :— 1 do not love thee for thyself, Thy amber clouds, thy floating car, Thy small minist'ring ouphe or elph, I care not half a farthing for :• — But when on Susan's breast you shine, And lend new radiance to each look : Then ? Goddess, you shall gild the line, And gleam throughout my fav rite book ! 20 POEMS. THE ROSE. Sweet offspring of the tears of Aurora, Object of Zephyr's soft embrace ; Queen of the empire of youthful Flora, Haste and show thy beauteous face. Haste ! from thy thorny couch arise ; Quick ! expand each glowing- colour ; Proud thou must he, since the prize Thou bear'st away from ev'ry flower ! Go ! on Themire's soft breast expire ! Oh let it be thy throne and tomb ! Jealous of thy lot, I but aspire To the bliss of so sweet a doom * POEMS 21 TO Fairest idol of my heart, Canst thou still resistless prove ? And is hatred's poison'd dart Sweeter than the dart of love ? 22 POEMS. TO Ah ! me, how my heart is as cold as the snow, No more with the pang* of affection to glow : No more to catch heat from the fire by thine eye, No more to be fann'd to a flame by a sigh. Yet you were quite cruel when oft this poor heart Would throb, beat, and burn with love's fatal smart : Now in vain you attempt lost desires to restore,, The raptures of beauty will charm it no more ! POEMS. 23 ODE. Virgins, be not always coy, Life is short, and short is joy ; Ev'ry hour may send its sweet, Grasp at all then that you meet. Smallest moments have their sting, Unenjoy'd, new cares they bring ; But when you pull the lock of Time, Soothing with jest, mirth, dance and rhyme, He lays his fleeting hour-glass down, Nor minds his scythe, on roses thrown, Braid your auburn locks, ye fair, The myrtle in your garlands wear : Lay suspicion's hint aside, Give each youth a beauteous bride The votaries of love are gay, Be blest, be true, be merry while you n 24 POEMS. TO LAURA, WEEPING. Oh charming nymph, of sloe-black eye, Swimming in love's delicious dew ! Why softly swells the balmy sigh, Which floods of am'rous tears pursue ? Why pants the bosom's snowy round ? Why are the warblings of that angel tongue In sorrow's sullen musing drown'd ? Why dim the melting glance, why mute the witching song ? POEMS, 25 L'EMBARRAS DU CHOIX. My choice would have fallen on Kitty, Who scarce fifteen summers has past : But Kate's still so shy and so timid, My courage, I fear, would not last ! This morn, little rosy-cheek'd Fanny Told an am'rous tale with her eye ; But unluckily Fan is so easy, I scarce should have time for a sigh ! Now there's Jane, she's both lovely and witty § And Pm on good terms with her spouse ; But it cools me to think such an angel His jealousy cannot arouse ! Then there's Sue, who forgets she's no chicken. Looks about her in search of a swain: But in truth I much fear those old pullets, To please 'em one tries all in vain ! E 26 POEMS, Now as to that prude, little Emma, I like very well her wise looks ; But were I to love the Blue Stocking*, They'd swear I was partial to books ! Now, Martha, methinks, will just suit me : A month will have won me a kiss ; And sure 'tis the sweetest of dreaming, To dream for a month of such bliss ! POEMS. 27 MARY. '•' Ah me ! how sweet is love itself possest, When but love's shadows are so rich in joy !" Shakspeare. If reason could the heart controul, If memory from itself could fly, Pd quench the fire that burns my soul, Nor drink the poison from her eye ! How often have I vainly sought To guard against love's maddening sway, But flashing deep into my heart, One glance has swept resolve away ! Since Reason, then, can ne'er assuage Presumptuous reveries like mine, Rage on, my soul ! still madly rage, And be a fancied Mary mine ! 2& F.OEM&* Long may the fairy vision spread Its soothing spell around my mind, That joy, itself for ever fled, May leave the phantom still behind ! And when, at length, this life shall fade, And earthly scenes recede in gloom, My Mary's fondly cherish' d shade Shall light my passage to the tornb ! POEMS. 29 TO ROSA. Ah, Rosa ! shall thy heart Its tenderness disguise ? Or veil that love with art, Which radiates from thine eyes ? Why, on the lingering night, When fancy fondly plays, Chid'st thou the soft delight, That on thy slumber strays ? Shall Prudenee, coldly wise, Expression's power controul \ And check those swelling sighs, That speak th'* impassioned soul i No, Rosa, charming maid; Ne'er strive from love to ilee ; Nor be of that afraid, Which blest the world -with thee f 30 POEMS. THE ACCUSATION, Amantium irse amoris redingratio est.— Terence, And does my Rosa still adore ? And is she still the same fond maid ? In truth, I fear'd her love was o'er, And that from me her heart had stray'd !— Nay, Henry, this is most unkind ! When didst thou Rosa backward find ? The quivering lip, and half drawn sigh — The burning cheek, and beaming eye, Are signs of love that all may give, And all allow or disbelieve — But, Oh, ! the proof that I have shown, Must surely prove this heart thine own ! And well thou know'st, that in my breast, Thy much lov'd image is impressed ! — Enough, enough — my fears were vain— Forgive me, if I've given pain. POEMS. 31 But come, thy reasons, sceptic, own, For thinking* that my love had flown ? Well then, — methought, the other day. As we in am'rous dalliance lay, Within the bow'r, on flow'ry bank, And on thy breast I, sighing, sank — Methought, that as my lips met thine, Thy kiss was not so sweet as mine ! That as I clasp'd thy sylph-like form, Thine own embrace was not so warm As when our reign of bliss began, And days and years seem'd but a span ! But now I own I was to blame ! Yes, yes, I see thou art the same, And falsehood onlyknow'st byname, Yes, yes, I own my happy lot — A kiss, my love, and all's forgot ! 32 POEMS. EPIGRAM, IMITATED FROM BOILEAU. Unusual pains my bosom move ; Methinks, dear Kitty, Fm in love : You frown !— Soft ;— I am in love 'tis true, But, on my honor, not with ym! MS, 38 SONG. Love ! O soul distracting boy ! 1 deem'cl thy bow an idle toy With blunted dart ! Too soon its force I feel, I know Its fatal force — I burn, I glow, It tears my heart ! From Sappho's eye the poison came ; (Cupid and Sappho are the same,) With tingling pain ! I rave, I weep, I turn, I rise, Yet still the conqu'ring torture flies Thro' every vein ! Ah ! tyrant, amiably unkind ! Ah ! fairest face ! Ah ! fellest mind s . Thy victim spare. Soothe with soft hand his soul to rest 5 Enfold him in thy balmy breast, Elysium share ! p 34 POEMS. MOONLIGHT ON THE OCEAN. On the deck of the slow-sailing* vessel, alone, As I silently sat/ — all was mute as the grave ; It was night, and the moon, brightly glittering, shone, Lighting up, with her lustre, the quivering wave! How bewitchingly mellow and pure was the beam Which she darted while watching o'er Nature's repose ! It enchanted my soul like Christianity's gleam, As it softens and soothes without chasing our woes ! And I felt such an exquisite wildness of sorrow, While charm'd by the tremulous glow of the deep, That I long'd to prevent the intrusion. of morrow, And stay there for ever to wonder and weep ! POEMS. 35 HENRY AND ELLEN, A TALE. The sun had sunk behind the hill ; The air it was so calm and still That you might hear the little rill Soft weeping in the grove : The parent birds were homeward winging To those their tedious absence singing ; The village bells were gaily ringing. And all was sweet as love : — When, near the path that skirts the wood, Fair Ellen of the cottage stood, Her lover there to meet. It was th' accustomed hour of eve, When both were wont their cots to leave And thither bend their feet. Upon her cheek the rose of youth The lily of her neck did greet ; The sparkling eye, and dimpled mouth, Sweet Ellen's picture will complete ! 36 POEMS. The wood-path gained, she gaz'd around : 'Twas there she hop'd him to have found With welcome warm and sweet— And, oh ! her grief was great, I ween, For no where was he to be seen ! She sat her down upon a bank, Whose flow'rs the riv'let's waters drank Which bubbled near her feet. u Ah, me I" the lovely damsel cried, — And, as she spoke, she sadly sighed, — A tear, too, dimm'd her eye : " Ah me \" she cried, " why this delay, " Why past the hour does Henry stay V ? Then follow'd a deep sigh. " He was not wont to be thus late — ■ " My heart, alas ! forbodes ill-fate, " And trembles with alarm ! " No longer can I bear suspense — " This instant I will hie me hence " To learn the good or harm. " In yonder vale his parents' cot " Its lowly head uprears ; TOEMS. 37 u Contentment marks their humble lot, " And ev'ry moment cheers. " I'll thither wend, nor longer stay : " The day is fled, far spent the night ; — li The moon's cold beam that glitters bright (i Will serve to light me on my way." The moon, in truth, had just arose, Majestic and serene ; Its rays had kiss'd the dew-bant rose, And slept upon the green ! The cottage gain'd — she sudden stopt— Her hands, too, from the latch quick dropt ; For, 'tween the pauses of the breeze, That whistled thro' the poplar trees, Which form'd before the cot a screen, So that afar 'tcould not be seen ; — Fair Ellen heard, or thought she heard, Of grief the stifled sobs and groans ; While, ever and anon, the bird Of evil presage, croaks and moans. — Fear, doubt, alarm, successive, sway'd The bosom of the trembling maid ; 38 POEMS, Throughout her frame a chillness rang'd, As if life's stream had sudden changed From warm to icy cold ! Nor marvel ye that thus she felt, When danger threatened those she lov'd ; Compassion she had ever prov'd : Sweet Pity's daughter, she would melt When sorrow's plaintive tale was told ! Again the stifled sobs she hears, Confirming all her horrid fears ; — Thro' terror bold, the lovely maid Upon the latch her finger laid, The door upon its hinges creak'd, She enter'd, and as sudden shriek'd, For, oh ! a picture met her sight, Which mocks the poet's strongest flight To paint — the limner's skill alone could mark The spectacle of that chamber dark ! Two aged forms, with knees on ground, A lowly couch in tears surround ; Beside them lay two infants sweet. Whose sobs fair Ellen's ear quick greet Some distance off, in grief sunk deep, . A lovely damsel loud did weep. POEMS. 3 '9-' Fair Ellen to the couch drew nigh, To learn why thus they grieve and sigh ; For whom this sad lament to hear, The inmates of the cot to cheer, Who to her heart were doubly dear, As parents of her love — When, oh ! upon that couch she saw A sight the savage beast might thaw — A corpse lay there, her love ! Pale was that cheek, were late was seen Health's rosy tint and comely hue ; Swoln was that form, whose noble mien From ev'ry tongue loud praises drew ! Ellen stood motionless — the chilling sight Like hemlock on her senses prest ; One hollow sigh, 'twas all she might, Burst from the bottom of her breast. Then rushing forward with loud shriek, Herself upon the corpse she threw, Kiss'd his cold forehead, lips, and cheek, And, thus entwined, her last breath drew ! It now befits me to relate How Henry met his hapless fate. 40 POEMS. 'Twas simply, sadly thus — As home He bent his steps from evening's roam, Across a slender wooden bridge, Which of two mountains joined the ridge While down below, a torrent deep Onward rushed with impetuous sweep ; The sudden cry assailed his ear Of one in danger and in fear ; And, gazing down, a vestment white, By waves environ'd, met his sight. Of courage dauntless, heart as bold As e'er was form'd in nature's mould, Brave Henry forward push'd ; And swiftly as the frighted deer, When huntsman's horn is loud and near, He down the mountain rush'd ; And fearless plung'd into the wave, [n hopes the maiden's life to save. The furious billows just had struck , Her hapless head against the rock, And deaden'd by the desp'rate shock, She sunk to rise no more ! Finding all efforts vain to save, He left her to her wat'ry grave, And sought to gain the she POEMS. 41 In vain he strove to beat aside, With sinewy arm, the furious tide ; Huge waves on waves his breast assail, His strength alas ! begins to fail — * He sudden sank — then rose — Sweet hope beginning now to fade, He one last desp'rate effort made, But billows round him close — With clasped hands heaven's mercy to implore, He quickly sank in waves to rise no more ! Whose new grave is that where the violet blows, And lilies their snowy heads wave i — Tis the tomb of two lovers — fair Ellen the rose, And Henry the good and the brave. G 4 V 2 POEMS, ROSL1N CASTLE. A TALE OF OTHER TIMES. Where yon gigantic castle hangs its brow, Withering the sun's wan ray with baleful gloom .; Full many a gallant soldier sleeps below, Full many a dauntless bosom crowds the tomb ! There fair Rosalia liv'd, in calm retreat ; Whose noble veins the mutual blood contained Of Roslin valiant, and the brave Monteith, And well her high-born honors she maintained. What time with civil feuds sweet Scotland rung, And forts embattled rose, to dare the foe, A neighboring chief, with rival envy stung, Planned many a scheme to lay her glories low. Once from her turret's tall, imperial height, The death-fraught cannon slew her rival's hind : Since when, he long'd to urge the treacherous fight. And storm the walls, with peasantry combia'd. EM8. 13 The harvest smiling came — not so ihe band Of hostile chiefs ; for as the laborers inowYi The lofty corn, and stretch'd on either hand, So were their friends along the furrows strew'd. O'er their low graves the fertile sod arose ; And Ceres oft with purple poppies crown" d Each lowly tomb ; and many a wild blown rose, With artless scutcheon, marked the scene around. There, as the ploughman guides the shining share, Shrill targets rattle on the loaded gale ; Or ghastly shadows press the blasted ear, And sighs, low heav'd, disturb the elfin vale. In dreary vision following tribes invade, And pant upon the flying shepherds rear : Nay, Oberon marshals each invading shade, And spirits tell what sprites alone can hear ! 44 POEM 8. EPIGRAM. That a woman can, tongueless, discourse, And talk pretty plain, I agree : — But with one that she can be mute, Will never gain credit with me ! POEMS. 45 TO . Delicious girl ! just turned fifteen, Of rosy cheek and graceful mien ; Whose lips, like dew-clad cherries, I devour ; Thine is the art to mock old Time, Spending- profuse thy vernal prime, Well knowing- beauty is a short liv'd flow'r! What is that phantom, reputation ? Or delicate coquette, Miss Fashion? Believe me, sweet, those hig-h born dames, Burning in virtue's purgatorial flames, Would all their gems and lays resign, To boast a bosom white as thine ! Nature in thee her sweetest cordial gave To recompense for surly death ; For who, deep-rev'lling in thy charms, Sunk in the sweet elysium of thine arms, Thinks ou that dismal den a — grave ? No, no, of extacy thou breathing bloom, Be thy fond clasp of love the only tomb ! 46 POEMS. SONG. T'other morning I met little Kitty ; Kate is forty-five if she's not more ; But her smile was so coaxing 4 and pretty, That it scor'd off one ten of the four ! The dear sex at that age is not cruel, Especially when no one is nigh : I stole from her lips a few kisses, Which bid ten more a good bye ! A sigh which she heav'd gave me courage ; We tremblingly sank on the green : I made of her charms such sweet pillage, That I thought little Kate but fifteen ! CHANSON, J'allois chez Rose hier an soir; Et quoique charmante, On eut pu Pappercevoir Triste et languisante. Vous croyez, qu 'avec Lucas Ce sont de nouveaux debats— Non, non, vous ne savez pas Ce qui la tourmente ! Dans un bosquet, r autre jour, La jeune innocente A eueillie la fieur d' amour : — ■ Mais, trop imprudente, Elle tremble d' avoir pris Avee la Heur quelques fruits /- Et voiia, mes chers amis, Ce qui la tourmente f - POEMS. Deja la lune, dans son cours, Lui parait trop lente ; Un courrier, depuis trois jours, Trompe son attente. Mais, chacun peu consterne De son sort infortune, Lui voudrait avoir donne Ce qui la tourmente i roEM*. 49 ON FRUITS AND FLOWERS, Made of Goose Feathers. Alienos fructos, et non'sfaa poma miratur. Thrice happy Goose ! whose painted plumes Rival fair Flora's sweet perfumes ; And, in rich dies purp ureal drest, Recline on Cloe's snowy breast ! O ! who could think a goose would prove The tender extacy of love ! And shine upon that throne sublime. Where man presuming* dares not climb ! So am'rous, masquerading- Jove, Usurped the plumage of the dove, Dress'd in the bird of beauty's charms, And lay entranced in Leda's arms ! — * Some learned critics, by and by, " A metamorphosis" ! will cry ; And tell, in pompous verse and prose. Of Cupid change d into a goose! 50 POEMS, STANZAS. Shall sorrow's tear unpitied fall, Shall grief unheeded heave the sigh, Shall they who languish vainly call. Or mis'ry's child un' tended die ? Not while sweet woman lingers here — That soother of the troubled mind, That angel sent from Heav'n to cheer, Refine, delight, and tend mankind ! POEMS. BALLAD. Maria, sweet Maria, fair, My pleasing- pain, my tender care ! How blest, how glad my love-sick mind, Could I but call Maria kind, Yet ah ! perchance, in some soft dream, She views my weeping eyelids stream ; Perchance — my drooping* soul be gay ! She wipes the falling- tear away ! Oh ! may no wealthy suitor stand Between my hopes, and claim her hand ; No glittering toys her bosom move, For I am poor in all — but love ! Yet sure, unlike her giddy kind, No chains of gold her faith can bind ; O ! what is gold, that splendid pest, Compared to one ingenuous breast ! 52 POEMS. Nor wants my love a comely air, Nor is my breast of science bare ; Yet still her cruel thought is free, Apollo I, and Daphne she ! POEMS. 53 BALLAD. True love will never chill Till life depart ; Fondness will ever fill The faithful heart. Absence may for awhile Dim fond affection's smile — 'Tis but the fear of guile On lover's heart. True love is like the rose, Budding in Spring-; When Summer comes it blows^ And sweets doth bring. Bulfoft a cruel wind Will its young leaves unbind — Thus death, to love unkind, Bids life take wing ! 54 roEMS, STANZAS. The snowy plumage of the swan Silvers the current of the limpid stream ; The cooing dove, her fav'rite turtle gone, Sighs her sad tale beneath the moonlight gleam. Yet all in vain they strive to lull my care, And bid this wretched bosom still be gay : When beauty's fled, no other scenes are fair, And joy is past when Mary is away ! M6, 5f) ODE TO LOVE. King of wily dimples, dart Thyself into my opening* heart ; Let thy temple be my breast, Where thou may'st sit in ardour drest; My heart, sweet child^ thy purple seat, Bid the quickening pulses beat, Throb, and pant, and swelling rise, Pouring' their vigour through my eyes ! So may I the virgins charm, And with one glance their frozen wishes warm. For w 7 ho a rebel then can prove ? Love in mv heart, mvself am Love ! 56 POEMS. TO ELIZA. When o'er thy angel face I gaze, My passions fix in mute amaze, The stealing tears, unbidden, roll, And mournful silence swells my soul. You speak ! — wild tumults sudden rise, Oppress mine heart, inflame mine eyes ; Again, the tyrant pangs return ! Again, the trembling pulses burn I You touch ! — oh, wilder still they rage ! Fond hopes, and cold despair engage ; Quick colours flush my varying cheek, But fade and falter as you speak ! Ah ! maid severe, this languid look, This blush, when thy bright eyes rebuke, These ardent pains, that lawless rove, Are sure th' unerring signs of love ! POEMS. .37 IMPROMPTU. ON HER SINGING. ThrilPd by the subtle song- from Julia's lip* I feel the melting- accents sinking deep : Like poor Ulysses turn my ear away* But catch her glances when I shun her lay ! 58 POEMS. THE SEVEN CAPITAL SINS, FROM THE FRENCH. Sure, Rosa, you jest — what ! I turn confessor To so dear, so enchanting, so sweet an aggressor ? To your conscience convey the torch of repen- tance, And pronounce on your sins a terrible sentence? Nay, have I the look, the saint-like appearance* Of those reverend men, calPd parsons in com- mon ; Who with grave air, modest look, and blest ar- rogance, Presume to establish themselves judges of wo- men ? No, no ! and yet, when I ponder, methinks there exists, In one way a likeness between me and those priests : — When with flushed cheek, downcast eyes, and meek air, A sweet penitent to the stall doth repair, [•OEMS. To confess those dear sins by prudes ternrd most sad ; But which you and I think by no means so bad ! Oft, at the tale of those pleasures, which, blush- ing*, they own, Their cold bosoms melt, and quick yield to the fire, Which shoots through their frame the sweet re- bel desire ; And at heart they approve, and partake of the sin : Yes, dearest, I own, though undeserving of grace, I should do just the same were I in their place ! But jesting apart — 'tis your wish — I obey, Though, in truth, Fm a novice at this sort of play ! Now prepare — the wicket opens — to pride art thou prone ? Entre nous, pretty rogue, I will candidly own I think that you are — for, with beauty like yours, Which both love and fond admiration secures ; With that sylph -like form, and that bright beaming eye, Where a thousand young Cupids nestle so sly— 60 POEMS. No wonder young damsels like you should inhale That incense which scarce e'er was heard of to fail! But this sin I forgive, since dame Nature's to blame, Far having ordained you so angelic a frame : — And 'tis ugliness only that ought to feel shame. To proceed — of Avarice art thou the slave ? You blush!— well you may — good reason you have— 'Tis indeed a most sad, a most culpable sin ! A crime which scarce can hope forgiveness to win. Useless possessor of love's gifts, be assured, You will answer the bliss you might have secured. But cheer up, sad rogue — we are led to believe True repentance will every error reprieve. To proceed — for Gluttony hast any taste? I can't tell — but love in a whisper declares, That when he constructed that mouth pure and chaste, £[e design'd it to enjoy far more delicate fare ! POEMS. 01 If sometimes to Anger you have given way, No doubt some bold lover 'twas, tired with delay, Strove to rifle those favours you wish'd to reserve For one whom you thought did them better deserve. In truth, love, such anger was somewhat unjust: If your beauty and smiles created his lust, Was the fond youth to blame, if by chance he forgot What to virtue is due ? — in truth he was not. So, in future, beware, — and conceal those bright charms, Or yield yourself up to a fond lover's arms. From base Envy I'm certain your soul is quite free : For who, unequalFd in beauty and wit as thou art, Could cause you to feel a spark e'en of jealousy ? 'Tis your rivals alone that are stung with her smart. There next comes a sin, less frightful than any ; To which 111 avow I fear you are prone : A sin of which more than one pretty Fanny Between two white sheets is oft guilty alone ! 6jpl POEMS. Nay blush not, my dear, nor your eyes downward bend, Let not modesty think I wish to offend. 'Tis Idleness, love, of which I now speak: To correct yourself of it, I prithee, don't seek. ~Tis a sin that young damsels may with ease be forgiven ; And I'll warrant it will not exclude them from heaven. So, if, just at day-break, the soft breath of love Should whisper sweet dreams about bliss and — —all that ; For humanity's sake, may such dreaming re- prove, And inspire you with taste for real bliss and all that ! And now, love, my task is almost completed ; Six of the seven sins we have repeated : There yet remains one, of all the most charming ! Which, should it chance your breast to be warming, I not only forgive, but, in favour of it, Excuse all the others vou confess to commit ! POEMS 1 : 63 SONG. Desire ! thou tyrant of the heart, O'er the subject passions swaying: Bitterest sweet ! delicious smart ! With pangs in cruel mockery playing. From this sad heart, the seat of woe, From this sad breast, fond God, remove ; O bid unblissful sorrow flow, Or let me taste unpainful love ! 04 POEMS, STANZAS. In Youth's blooming Spring ev'ry chaplet's a crown, Ev'ry rose a rich sceptre, and green turf a throne ; The break of a cloud can new raptures dispense, And the fall of a rill lull each too-feeling sense ! But in Age's hoar Winter, each gale is a storm ; Each chill air a blight to the tottering form : And the frown of the sky, and the sunshiny ray, Are accounted the treacherous tricks of the day ! POEMS. OS THE LOVES OF HENRY QUATRE AND THE FAIR GABRIELLE. Imitated from the Ninth Canto of Voltaire's Henriade. On fair Idalia's blest and favor' d shore, Where Europe's climate with the Asian blends, An antique palace its proud head uprears, * By Nature founded, and unhurt by Time. Adorning* Art the simple structure grac'd, And boldly toiling-, Nature's work surpass'd. * This description of the Temple of Love, and the painting of that passion personized, are entirely allegorical. The scene of action is placed in Cyprus, as Rome is made the abode of policy ; because the people of the isle of Cyprus have in all eyes been supposed most addicted to Love, just as the Court of Rome has had the reputation of being the most politic court in Europe* Love ought not then to be here considered as the Son of Venus, and a God of Fable ; but as a representation of the most violent passion of the human breast, with all its accom- panying pleasures and torments. K 66 POEMS. There the gay fields, by blooming* myrtle crown'd. Hoar winter's withering storms have never felt ! Pomona there the trees with fruit overloads, And Flora's gifts are scattered all around ; The earth, her golden crops to yield, nor waits The Seasons' order, nor the pray'r of man. Mortals seem there t'enjoy, in peace profound, All that sweet Nature, when the world was born. Upon the human race, beneficent, conferr'd ;— Eternal ease, days undisturbed and pure, All that in primeval time was known, Is there possess'd — save Innocence alone ! The only sounds that there disturb the air, Are syren concerts, which the soul entrance, A thousand youths their tuneful voices raise, And sing their own and mistress's disgrace. There, deck'd with crowns of ev'ry budding fiow'r, They beg the favors of the smiling God, Around the shrine with emulation crowd, To gain perfection in the art to please. Cajoling Hope, with calm, unclouded brow, To Love's bright Temple leads each am'rous band Half-naked Graces round the altar skip, i'OEWS. Oy And time their dances with their syren pipes ! Voluptuousness, contented and resigned, On mossy bank reclines, and lists their songs. Mystery in silence next the view descries, Enchanting Smiles, Address, and Complaisance, Gay, amorous Pleasure, and soft Desire, Than Pleasure more seducing, far more sweet ! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 'Tis even there that Love has fix'd his reign. This tender, cruel, and capricious child Bears in his feeble hand the fate of earth, And with a smile dispenses peace or war, In ev'ry region fraudful art exerts, Enlivens all, and reigns in ev'ry breast. From his bright throne his conquests he surveys, And makes a footstool of the haughtiest heads ; He seems to glory in his cruel deeds, And smiles upon the wounds his dart inflicts ! By Rage conducted, Discord thither flies, And clears, thro' Pleasure's frighted throng, her way. In each infernal hand a torch she bore : 68 POEMS. Her eyes flashed fire, her front was smear'd with blood. " Brother/' she cried, " where are thy dreaded « shafts? " For whom dost thou reserve thy fatal darts ? u Ah ! if, lighting- Discord's brand, thy rage " With my fell poison thou hast ever mix'd ; " If e'er for thee sweet Nature I have rack'd, ] LINES ADDRESSED TO HER BED; BY LAURA, For you, my bed, a wreath I'll twine ! A wreath of roses fresh and fair ; And sing, how oft, with hand divine, Pleasure has strew'd her garland there. » M When first with passion's genial flame My virgin heart unconscious thrill'd, To you I softly breath/d the pain Which all my trembling bosom filPd ! And when an object caught my eye, By fancy dress'd with heav'nly charms : To you I breath'd the tender sigh, And softly told my fond alarms. 122 POEMS. And when to passion's lawless pow'r I madly yielded all my soul ; When, at the solemn midnight hour, My lover to my bosom stole : — No storm disturbed th' eventful night ; No accident his steps delayed : But the moon's pale uncertain light Soft on my snowy curtains play'd ! And when my promis'd love he claim'd, And vow'd and swore he would be true; (Let not my yielding soul be blam'd), I trembled, sigh'd, and sank on you ! Then as he gave the burning kiss, And panted on my throbbing breast ; And sought the last — the dearest bliss — And pray'd, and struggl'd to be blest ; No friendly hand was nigh to save : — My voice — my breath — my strength, was gone, The shriek my parting virtue gave Was heard by you and you alone ! POEMS. 123 But when the envious morn was nigh, And with light steps my love withdrew ; I heav'd the fond reluctant sigh, And hid my blushing face in you ! 124 POEMS, AN EASTERN SONG. When last we parted on the shore, The western star illum'd the sea ; You bad me mark it, and adore ; And, far away, to think on thee ! O'er Mirza's grove it rose last night ; To others, doubtless, fair it shone :- But ah ! to me how dim its light ! For, when I gaz'd, I was alone ! POEMS. l l 25 BALLAD. How sweet were the evenings of love, When the branches all tremblingly play'd, And pale Cynthia stoop'd from above To gaze on my loveliest maid: For her beams, that sweet silver the air, Were faint to the beams of her eye ; And the starlight no longer was fair, When the smiles of my Anna were by. She was all a fond shepherd's proud boast, Her bosom his heav'nly abode ; But ah ! the soft soother is lost ! She lies near yon violet sod ! l c 26 POEMS. FAREWELL TO LOVE. AN ODE. TO I feel the transient passion past In fires too exquisite to last; I feel the gradual pang decay, Sweet is the night, and calm the day ! The fierce pulse bounds no more to clasp Thy small waist with extatic grasp ; The accents wont to quiver deep And stammer on the trembling lip, Now freely fall ; the sidelong glance, The tender heave, th' empassion'd trance, Are fled to grieve some fated swain, And I've my liberty again ! She, whom I priz'd for heav'nly charms, I've found a mortal in my arms ; POEMS. l c >7 She whom I once ador'd, no more Can bid my cautious eye adore ; She whom I would have died t' embrace, Has died in mem'ry's lessening trace ; Yet still, most grateful I remain For former pleasure, former pain ! 12S POEMS. EVENING. Lo ! Hesper from his coral cave Deep below the azure wave Rising in his misty shroud, His banner waves — a silver cloud ! Shadowy forms in armies fly, Like things of life, along the sky — Of Fancy born — who warps the sight With phantoms in the train of night ! Till from the nether worlds afar, The pale moon in her silver car, Up aether's shadowy cliffs ascends ; Her purest beams to each she lends To light their tops — a mimic birth, To mock the mountains of the earth ! Along some pearly sea she rides, Deep in some cloudy cavern glides, Then climbs the ridge's steepest height, And sits enthron'd the Queen of Night ! POEMS. 1V9 PARADISE LOST A FRAGMENT. Ah ! from truth and love betray'd, Smiles no longer Eden's shade, The tear of ev'n, the blush of dawn, The breezy steep, the dewy lawn ! Now no more in dell or bow'r Blooms the gay entwining flow'r, Whose dew-bright foliage oft among, Sweetly trill'd the simple song ! No more the faded jess'mines feel O'er their quiv'ring bosoms steal, Soft the conscious sigh of bliss, Warm the glow of rapture's kiss ; 130 POEMS. O'er beauty proud their shade to rear ! Water'd now by beauty's tear ! Dim is the day to guilt's dark eye, Death thunders from the angry sky ; Frowns o'er the deep, lies ambush'd in the vale, Lurks 'neath each form, and sighs in ev'ry gale, In vain the weary exiles seek repose, And nature saddens with their mutual woes ! Goddess of the living lyre, Wake ! oh, wake thy sacred fire ! In a heav'n-instructed measure, Oh ! revive the forms of pleasure ! See beneath yon willow'd shade, Hopeless weep the banish'd pair, Damps of midnight fast invade, Sorrow saddens to despair. Pining still in lonely thought, Oft they sigh reproach to fate, Doom'd to drink her bitt'rest draught, Doom'd to feel her sternest hate. POEMS. 131 The goddess hears ! Her lyre she rears Entwin'd with many a blushing tlower, From Eden sprung, That clustering hung Round love's enchanted bower ! Now she sweeps the trembling strings, Now of joys departed sings, And pleasures ever new, Blooming still in fancy's pow'r, Boasting still the mimic hour, Nor ravish'd wholly from the view. But chief Religion mild as fair, With peaceful lip, and humble air, On sailing pinion gently press'd the plain, Faith, Love, and Friendship smiling in her train. Lo ! the faded glooms decay, Touch'd by faith's enchanting ray ; 132 POEMS. Bright on sorrow's languid eye Streams a passage to the sky ! Springing from the alter'd waste Love with blushes hides the past, With tender arts the present cheers, And veils the doubt of future years ! poems. 133 A WISH. Oh ! were it but my happy lot To dwell in yonder vale, The tenant of yon humble cot, Where sighs the western gale :— I there would live in blest content, Nor envy proud or great, But grateful feel to lieav'n that sent A gift so kind and sweet ! At morn, I'd o'er the mountain run To catch the healthy gale ; At even, watch the setting sun, And list the robin's tale. And when my daily task was done, And night had veiPd the grove ; I'd seek my couch, and there return Mv thanks to Him above ! O 134 POEMS. FRIENDSHIP. How blest is he whose happy mind Has gain'd a true, untainted friend ! He ne'er shall want the hour refin'd, Nor in despair the moment spend. If stretched upon the bed of pain With agonizing frame he lies ; Friendship doth ever nigh remain, With pitying look and weeping eyes ! Do the dread clouds of fortune lower? He bears an equal share of woe ; Or threatens fierce offended power ? His bosom intercepts the blow ! 'Tis friendship lightens life's sad load, And robs misfortune of its sting ; He clears the thorns from mis'ry's road, And in their stead doth roses fling ! POEMS. 135 Ye violets droop — thou rose no longer bloom— ■ A sweeter flower than ye all hath faded ! Bow your fair heads, and die upon her tomb : No more in Laura's lovely tresses braided, Shall your soft colors with her beauty vie, To be by her more lovely hues degraded ; The gloom of death her loveliness has shaded, 'Twas all of Laura's beauty that could die ! For there is that which blooms in memory, A brighter image — that cannot decay — The mind's remaining, dearest phantasy ! Like the sweet sounds of music far away, Which, waken'd by some spirit's magic finger, Enwrap the soul, and round the senses linger While mem'ry lives her virtues shall not die! Her being was a dream of ecstasy, 136 POEMS. From which we wake but to regret its sweet- ness — A transient glimpse of joy to the forlorn, That glances forth, but to betray its fleetness — The rich effulgence of a vernal morn, Whose buds unfold the earlier to be blighted — An angel's voice whose tones no more re- turn To charm the ear it sooth'd and left delighted! POEMS. 13/ TO A LADY WHOSE INFANT DAUGHTER, DELPHINE, WAS REMARKABLE FOR THE BEAUTY, FIRE, AND INTELLIGENCE OF HER EYES. The Rose, which boasts so rich a dye, And wantonly with Zephyr plays, Wooes the delighted traveller's eye, Yet blushes at the traveller's gaze I That Rose, in but a little while, Shall bloom and blush no longer there, Shall pass away, like beauty's smile,— Be pale and cheerless, like despair. But when another Spring shall rise, Another Rose shall there be found; Another rose of richer dyes Shall shed a sweeter fragrance round. 138 POEMS, Thou art that earlier Rose — O long Be friendship with thy virtues blest ! The theme of many a poet's song, The idol of affection's breast ! And, if thy little one confirm The promise of her speaking eyes, In Delphine we behold the germ Of the next rose of richer dyes ! O may this child surpass in worth The bright example thou hast given, Charm the enraptur'd sons of earth, Then flourish in the fields of Heaven ! POEMS 139 LINES TO BE ENGRAVED ON THE TOMB-STONE OF AN ONLY DAUGHTER, WHOSE FATHER HAD DIED A FEW YEARS BEFORE. — THE MOTHER IS SUP- POSED TO WRITE THEM. Tho' the tree of my life, both the shelter and shade, Was cut down in its prime, yet the desert it made Was cheer'd by a dear little Scion for years, Which blossom'd in smiles, tho' water'd by tears ; Now that too has perish'd, renewing to me, In the fall of the Scion, the crash of the Tree ! 140 POEMS, STANZAS, Softly blows the Summer gale, Flitting idly round the sail, To woo us to the tranquil deep Whose waves in peaceful silence sleep ; But Zephyr plumes his wing with wiles, And ruin lurks in Ocean's smiles ! The gallant bark securely glides With fav'ring gales thro' peaceful tides ! The slumb'ring winds awake — the storm Assumes his darkest, wildest form ; The pilot vainly seeks the shore, His shatter'd bark returns no more ! Such is the morn of life — as calm — Pleasure's smooth wave that spreads the charm, POEMS. 141 A polish'd mirror, to the eyes, Reflecting suns and cloudless skies — But where is he that e'er return' d From pleasure's wave and never mournYl The wreck of Hope — of Virtue lost, By Vice's gales, on Ruin's billows toss'd ! If t i 112 POEMS, THE SEASONS. A FRAGMENT. SPRING. Mild Spring, Now smiling, and now weeping, on humid Wing, draws nigh — Young Hope her early visit Tends, and Sport, and blooming Health ! SUMMER. Wafted by sultry gales, on silken wing, Resplendent Summer comes— Gladdening Pre- mise Her noontide flight precedes. The Pleasures, Loves, And Graces hov'ring round her burning carl POEMS.. 143 AUTUMN. — Brown Autumn next, With hazel eye, loose vest, and sun-burnt face, Conies blithsome on — The ripen'd corn and down-cheek'd Fruit her evening visit mark, and Plenty Smiling in her happy train ! WINTER. Fell Winter, His froze teeth chatt'ring in his palsied jaw, W T ith icy scythe, comes last.- — Cankers and blights, And deadly dews his midnight march attend, And horror moaning thro* the iron air ! i 144 POEMS. SONNET. Et jam summa procul villarum culmina fumant ; Majoresque cadunt altis de montibus umbrae. Virgil. Thro' hazel copse oft, studious, let me roam, When love's last warblings melt the frozen year ; When the mute thrush broods o'er his little home, And sobbing murmurs strike the musing ear. When golden Autumn sinks on Winter grey — Meanwhile the evening falls in many a tear, Pallid and still, with wat'ry front severe; Till, slow dissolv'd in radiant mist away, The dim horizon clears, and the soft moon, Floats thro' the blue expanse in silver pride ! How sweet from some tall mountain's shadowy side, To catch the melting shake of pastoral tune. POEMS. 145 Wild warbled ! or the simple bell, afar, Flinging faint pauses on the broken wind. To mark the speckled cloud, the twinkling star, Or the long waste of lovely night behind, Fitting to solemn thought the pure, poetic mind ! I 146 POEMS. STANZAS.* " Those evening bells ! those evening bells !" How many a tale their chiming tells Of days of joy and bliss gone by, When lightly pass'd the bosom's sigh ; When those our warm hearts held most dear, Most fondly priz'd, still linger'd here : When youth of future greatness dream'd, And love and friendship real seemed ! Still, still ring on, sweet evening bells ! I love the tales your chiming tells ; * This is one of the few trifles the Editor has taken the liberty to insert. To attempt to conceal from whence he has borrowed the idea, as also the whole first line of the poem, would be as fruitless as presumptuous. The beautiful stan- zas on the same subject by the inimitable author of " Lalla Rookh" are too well known for him to attempt the impo- sition. POEMS. 147 And though my sighs pass heavy now, And clouds of care obscure my brow, 'Tis your's the pow'r to sooth my breast, And lull each troubled sense to rest ! 148 POEMS. FAREWELL TO POESY. Sweet pipe, adieu ! — thy strain is o'er ! The melting song thou'lt breathe no more ; No more to Laura's breast convey The tender tale, or 'witching lay ! No more beguile thy master's heart, Who grieves with thee so soon to part : Since he to distant climes must rove, And quit for aye blest scenes of love ! To Fancy and Affection true, Once more, sweet pipe, adieu ! adieu ! ERRATA. Page 19 line 6 dele comma after painting. 39 9 dele comma after there. — — 46 8 insert years after more. 66 - — 23 colon after band. 71 18 for abys's read abyss*. 78 3 dele ■ - 103 I comma after secrets, — — 104 5 comma after beauty. 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