ページの画像
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

To DELIA, with fome flowers; complaining how much biş benevolence fuffers on account of his bumble fortune.

W

Hate'er could fculpture's curious art employ,

Whate'er the lavish hand of wealth can show'r, These would I give-and every gift enjoy

That pleas'd my fair-but fate denies the pow'r.

Bleft were my lot, to feed the focial fires!
To learn the latent wishes of a friend!

To give the boon his native taste admires,
And, for my tranfport, on his fmile depend!

Bleft too is he, whose ev'ning ramble strays
Where droop the fons of indigence and care!
His little gifts their gladden'd eyes amaze,
And win, at small expence, their fondest pray'r!

And oh the joy! to fhun the conscious light,

To fpare the modest blush; to give unseen! Like show'rs that fall behind the veil of night,

Yet deeply tinge the fmiling vales with green.

But

But happiest they, who drooping realms relieve!
Whose virtues in our cultur'd vales appear!
For whofe fad fate a thousand fhepherds grieve,
And fading fields allow the grief fincere.

To call loft worth from its oppreffive fhade;
To fix its equal sphere, and fee it shine;
To hear it grateful own the generous aid;
This, this is transport-but must ne'er be mine.

Faint is my bounded bliss; nor I refuse

To range where daizies open, rivers roll; While profe or fong the languid hours amuse,

And foothe the fond impatience of my foul.

Awhile I'll weave the roofs of jasmin bow'rs,

And urge with trivial cares the loit'ring year; Awhile I'll prune my grove, protect my flow'rs, Then, unlamented, press an early bier!

Of those lov'd flow'rs the lifelefs corfe may fhare;
Some hireling hand a fading wreath bestow;
The reft will breathe as fweet, will glow as fair,
As when their master smil❜d to see them glow.

The sequent morn fhall wake the filvan quire;
The kid again fhall wanton ere 'tis noon;
Nature will fmile, will wear her beft attire;
O! let not gentle DELIA fmile fo foon!

[blocks in formation]

While the rude hearfe conveys me flow away,
And careless eyes my vulgar fate proclaim,
Let thy kind tear my utmost worth o'erpay;
And, foftly fighing, vindicate my fame.-

O DELIA! chear'd by thy fuperior praise,
I bless the filent path the fates decree ;
Pleas'd, from the lift of my inglorious days,
To raze the moments crown'd with blifs, and thee.

ELEGY

[blocks in formation]

Defcribing the forrow of an ingenuous mind, on the melancholy event of a licentious amour.

WHY mourns my friend! why weeps his downcafteye?
That eye where mirth, where fancy us'd to shine?

Thy chearful meads reprove that fwelling figh;
Spring ne'er enamel'd fairer meads than thine."

Art thou not lodg'd in fortune's warm embrace?
Wert thou not form'd by nature's partial care?
Bleft in thy fong, and bleft in ev'ry grace

That wins the friend, or that enchants the fair?

DAMON, faid he, thy partial praise restrain;

Not DAMON's friendship can my peace restore;
Alas! his very praise awakes my pain,

And my poor wounded bofom bleeds the more.

For oh! that nature on my birth had frown'd!
Or fortune fix'd me to fome lowly cell!
Then had my bofom 'fcap'd this fatal wound,
Nor had I bid these vernal sweets, farewel.

But led by fortune's hand, her darling child,
My youth her vain licentious blifs admir'd;
In fortune's train the fyre a flatt'ry fmil'd,
And rafhly hallow'd all her queen inspir'd.

[blocks in formation]

Founded on the Story of Fully Godfrey in Richardson's Pamela.

Of

[ocr errors]

Of folly ftudious, ev❜n of vices vain,

[ocr errors]

Ah vices! gilded by the rich and gay I chas'd the guilelefs daughters of the plain, Nor dropt the chace, till JESSY was my prey.

Poor artlefs maid! to ftain thy fpotless name,
Expence, and art, and toil, united strove;
To lure a breaft that felt the purest flame,
Suftain'd by virtue, but betray'd by love.

School'd in the fcience of love's mazy wiles,

I cloath'd each feature with affected scorn; I fpoke of jealous doubts, and fickle smiles,

And, feigning, left her anxious and forlorn.

Then, while the fancy'd rage alarm'd her care,
Warm to deny, and zealous to difprove;
I bade my words the wonted foftness wear,
And feiz'd the minute of returning love.

To thee, my DAMON, dare I paint the reft?
Will yet thy love a candid ear incline?
Affur'd that virtue, by misfortune prest,
Feels not the sharpness of a pang like mine.

Nine envious moons matur'd her growing fhame; Ere while to flaunt it in the face of day; When fcorn'd of virtue, ftigmatiz'd by fame, Low at my feet defponding JESSY lay.

" HENRY*

« 前へ次へ »