ODE to EXPECTATION.
LET others curse thy heavy Sway,
Of dull Suspence, and cold Delay;
Complain of Absence' ling'ring Pain,
And Hope, for Years indulg'd in vain,
To me, as thou wert wont, appear,
Tell me but that
Amasia's near,
Fraught with the Prospect of that Blessing,
'Tis not expecting—but possessing.
COME, EXPECTATION! Haste to me,
Kind Parent of Credulity!
[Page 2] For ever put that Semblance on,
Appear like her, and her alone;
Before my Eyes her Image place,
Her Strength of Mind, her Bloom of Face:
Thine Aid will I for ay implore,
Thy Bounty bless, thy Pow'r adore.
WHAT could I not, with Patience, bear,
With Pleasure, while I wait for her!
No Grief could feel while she were nigh,
And Laughter wanton'd in her Eye;
Nor Pleasure know, estrang'd to Joys,
Whene'er I hear
Amasia's Sighs;
Nor any, any Danger fear,
So great—as that of losing her.
YET it must be—I'm doom'd to part,
To tear her from my Eyes, my Heart;
My ev'ry Hope, each Wish resign,
And never, never call her mine.
—But is there none, no secret Way,
My Vows to waft, my Duty pay?
Friendship! Esteem! Can none of these
Instruct an artless Swain to please?
[Page 3] Yet robb'd of the sole Pow'r t'impart
The honest Meaning of my Heart,
How can I half its Feelings prove,
How? When I dare not mention Love?
YET fly, Despair! Suspence, begone!
Your sullen Empire I disown;
With Transport still I bow to thee,
Kind Parent of Credulity!
Benign, as erst, do thou appear,
And Hope, and certain Joy is near.
Haste, EXPECTATION, loveliest Friend,
Thy softest, sweetest Influence lend:
The anxious, Heart-expanding Sigh,
That rises when
Amasia's nigh,
Which kindles all my Soul, to prove
Her Beauty's Force, the Pride of Love!
To view, to hear, to clasp her once again,
Were cheaply purchas'd with an Age of Pain.
SONG.
LONG at thy Altar, God of Love,
I paid a double Duty;
A Slave to
Celia's Voice and Wit,
To
Chloe's Taste and Beauty.
Fain would I fix my restless Heart,
While they, with awkward Feature,
Disguise in Affectation's Masque
The bounteous Gifts of Nature.
Celia, affecting Beauty's Grace,
Destroys her Sense and Spirit,
And
Chloe's Charms, thro' fancy'd Wit,
Lose all their wonted Merit.
While in their native Beauties deckt,
I can love both,—or either,—
But thus in borrow'd Airs disguis'd,
I can be fond of neither.
Imitation of Part of the 3d Epode of
Horace.
Horrida Tempestas Coelum contraxit, &c.
NOW wintry Blasts deform the Year—the Rain
Descends—fast falls the fleeting Snow;
Bleak thro' the Woods the North-Winds blow,
And Storms and Tempests vex the angry Main.
From these let us a Warning take,
And learn of Life the most to make,
While
Youth, Health, Strength, and
Jollity remain;
No more let sullen Thoughts o'er cast thy Brow,
But join, my Friend, the social Board,
Let Mirth fly round!
Champagne's the Word!
When wrinkled Age appears, we'll sober grow.
SONG, to Miss K— B— in Dublin.
FAIRER than the op'ning Lillies,
Fresher than the Morning Rose,
Are the blooming Charms of
Phyllis,
Richer Sweets does she disclose.
[Page 6] Long secure from
Cupid's Power,
Soft Repose had lull'd my Breast,
'Till, in one short, fatal Hour,
She depriv'd my Soul of Rest.
Child of Pleasure and Vexation,
Fly, my Verse, and paint my Flame;
Whisper soft that tender Passion,
Which I must not, cannot name!
Lovely Fair, remove my Anguish,
Give my Soul her wonted Ease;
Since you've taught me how to languish,
Teach, oh! teach me how to please.
To a Friend on his Marriage.
Felices ter, & amplius,
Quos irrupta tenet Copula!
HORAT.
WHEN
Dignity and
Titles wed,
Shall Flatt'ry deck the
bridal Bed?
When
Hymen's Torch must blush for Shame,
That only
Wealth inspires the Flame;
[Page 7] Or when the Muse on
Beauty's pow'r
Attends, to grace a venal Hour,
To
such shall she her Honors pay,
Yet none be found to grace
this Day?
Shall no applauding Verse be read,
When
Honesty and
Goodness wed?
BE it then mine, and mine alone,
For once the
nuptial Rites to crown!
Stranger to Flatt'ry, Lie, or Sneer,
My Commendation is sincere;
And sure the Verse you may commend,
Altho' the Poet be—a FRIEND.
PURSUE,
blest Pair, the fond Regard,
Each other's Virtues to reward.
Eternal Joys shall on ye wait,
Unknown to
Titles, Wealth, or
State;
Now
Titles, Wealth, and
State shall bend,
O'ercome by
Husband, Consort, Friend!
Such are the
Titles that reward
Unspotted Truth, and firm Regard.
Wealth too your Blessings shall approve;
Undying
Peace, immortal
Love!
[Page 8] Such
Wealth as this to ye is lent;
And when shall
Love's rich Store be spent?
State too—the highest shall ye know,
VIRTUE—our highest State below!
To crown your Happiness, the Muse
With Wish sincere the Verse pursues.
"May Faith, Affection, and Esteem,
"Be ever your delighted Theme!
"May Satisfaction be your Bed,
"Content, a Pillow for the Head!
"While in each others Arms ye lie,
"May Love close up the slumb'ring Eye!
"And may each new-revolving Sun
"Improve the
Bliss, which this begun!"
ODE.
YOUNG
Corydon for lovely
Phyllis burn'd,
The gen'rous Nymph his ardent Wailings mourn'd.
The nuptial Tye her warmer Thoughts confin'd;
Still some Emotions flutter'd in her Mind;
[Page 9] The wily Youth had touch'd her tender Breast,
When smiling soft the Swain she thus addrest.
Cease, fond Youth, no Pray'r shall move
My soften'd Soul to guilty Love:
Those passionate Complaints give o'er,
Comply—or ne'er behold me more.
My Rage yet Pity disapproves,
Some Pow'r o'ersways, but 'tis not Love's;
Be Passion lost in Friendship's Flame!
Approach me with that sacred Name,
And ev'ry virtuous Blessing claim.
Such kind Expressions, such endearing Terms
Who dares misconstrue what dire Lust alarms!
—The am'rous Youth her Fondness misapply'd:
Inflam'd with fierce Desire! And warmly sigh'd,
Friendship, alas, in Breasts like mine
Dominion ne'er can own:
Where
rebel Love holds uncontroul'd
A firm, unshaken Throne;
Come, let me fold thee in my Arms,
Secure from ev'ry Eye;
Pour forth my Soul in Rapture's Heat,
And on thy Bosom die!
THE virtuous Nymph in conscious Grief and Fear
Mourn'd silently, yet dropt a speaking Tear.
Struck with Remorse, he saw the piercing Sign
Of Heav'n-born Innocence, and Truth divine.
Sorrow and Shame his erring Bosom stung,
And half-broke Accents faulter'd on his Tongue.
She saw with Pleasure his repentant Grief,
And thus bespoke, to give his Soul Relief.
How blest I am, no Tongue can prove,
In such superior Force to move,
And heal thy frantic Breast!
Such Virtue, Tenderness, and Truth,
What Pow'r could harm? (return'd the Youth)
He look'd, and sigh'd the rest.
Remorse and Wonder held them silent long;
Then Joy burst forth spontaneous in their Song.
Matchless the Youth, who, timely wise,
Can Passion's Faults retrieve!
Matchless the Fair, who kindly tries,
Those Errors to forgive!
[Page 11] Hence shall each meaner Bosom learn
How
Virtue's Pow'r can move,
How infelt
Goodness awes the Soul,
And
Friendship conquers Love.
SONG of VERTUMNUS imitated.
What beauteous Scenes inchant my Sight, &c.
PULCHRA quae coram video & venusta!
Brachia expandens generosa vitis
Ecce quam forti placidoque nexu
Jungitur ulmo!
Umbra non ulmus sterilis videtur,
Vitis ast uvis onerata circum;
Verreret terram, nisi opem tulisse
[...],
Vitis et ipsa.
Te,
Chloe, hoc utinam moveat jugali
Conjugem fidum sociare vinc'lo!
Quid ferant verò seniumque curaeque
Inspice cauta.
Nota, te exardet Deus ipse veris;
Proteget saltus virides Deus, qui
Praesidet anno.
Dum flagrant flammis alii caducis,
Illius constans amor usque durat;
Illius fidum repares amorem
Mutuo amore.
Nulla sic brumae, nivis atque dirae
Vis ferox veris minuet decorem;
Arbor et nullis violata ventis
Quaeque vigebit.
A PARAPHRASE on PSALM 46.
I.
BE Thou, O LORD, my Refuge in Distress,
My Stay in Trouble, and Support in Pain:
So shall Adversity's Assaults be less,
And hostile Arrows spend their Force in vain.
II.
What tho' the Earth from her Foundations rise,
The Hills upturn'd be cast into the Sea:
And Mountains shake to hear the Tempest's Voice,
Unmov'd I stand—my Trust I place in Thee.
III.
Tho' Ocean rage, and foaming Billows roar,
Secure, O Lord, thy great Tribunal's plac'd;
For, at thy Nod, the Billows swell no more,
The Earth is firm, the Mountains are at rest.
IV.
Terror, avaunt!—Danger is far from hence,
A guiltless Conscience forms it's own Reward;
The mighty Lord of Hosts is my Defence,
The God of
Jacob my Retreat and Guard.
V.
Come, and behold the Wonders of his Hand,
Lo! now Destruction reigns, and Battle's Ire—
Now the War's husht—Spears break at his Command,
And Chariots crackle in consuming Fire.
VI.
Then free, my Soul, from Terror and Suspence,
Await with Patience the divine Award;
The mighty Lord of Hosts is thy Defence,
The God of
Jacob thy Retreat and Guard.
PASTORAL.
I.
WHILE the clear Brook in prattling Murmurs play'd,
And Solitude adorn'd the pleasing Shade,
Blythe
Corydon breath'd forth his glowing Joy—
Ye Swains, attend—thus sung the am'rous Boy.
II.
No more to
Fancy's. Dreams the Notes belong,
Nor weak Ideas feebly tune my Tongue;
No more Invention's Aid the Muse requires,
Or faint Conception's momentary Fires;
III.
'Tis Gratitude inspires my ravish'd Heart,
And Virtue's Charms true Sentiments impart.
To my
Amasia's Ear the Notes belong,
Sweet are the Strains, if she approve my Song.
IV.
How blest am I, to see the Nymph I love
List to my Converse, and my Flame approve!
Who scorns the Trifler's Praise, the Flatt'rer's Art,
Humbly content to take an honest Heart.
V.
The painted Rose, that blooms on Beauty's Face,
The damask Lip, and every specious Grace;
What solid Joys, alas, can these impart,
If unattended with a spotless Heart?
VI.
Wherefore did Heav'n the female Race supply
With each gay Lustre that attracts the Eye,
Unless the fair Appearance was design'd
The Habitation of a fairer Mind?
VII.
Is there, who doubts the Truth of what I say,
Who thinks all female Charms will soon decay?—
In sweet
Amasia's Aspect let him see
What Beauty is, and Virtue ought to be.
VIII.
Behold the blooming Cheek! (O Joy to look!)
Has not the Rose her native Bed forsook?
—Then read her Mind—examine it with Care;
Say, is not ev'ry shining Virtue there?
IX.
Such are the Charms that in her Bosom shine,
Where Chastity and Truth, and Candour join;
Charms, that ne'er fade—but hourly will improve
Amasia's Charms—and who can blame my Love?
The Tenth ODE of the second Book of HORACE, imitated.
Rectius vives, Licini, &c.
I.
DEAR Friend, thy steddy Life must happiest prove,
If thou nor rashly tempt the angry Main;
Nor, when embark'd, each rising Gale can move
Thy purpos'd Soul to make the Port again.
II.
Whoe'er the golden Medium wisely keeps,
And timely flies Ambition's giddy State;
Exempt from sordid Want securely sleeps,
Exempt from envy'd Trappings of the Great.
III.
The Cloud-capt Tow'rs a wider Ruin spread,
The Pine full oft the Tempest's Rage endures;
And dreadful Lightnings blast the Hill's high Head,
From which, Humility the Vale secures.
IV.
When fickle Fortune smiles, the steady Mind
Still fears each Hour an adverse Stroke may bring;
Hopes, when she frowns, some happier Lot behind,
The Pow'r, who sends the Winter, sends the Spring.
V.
Tho' ruthless Fate reject our present Pray'rs,
It's stern Decrees in Time may milder grow—
Phoebus oft joins the Muses' sprightly Airs,
Nor always bends his pestilential Bow.
VI.
Boldly do thou, my Friend, with Heart prepar'd,
Stem the strong Current of Adversity:
But, when Prosperity's full Gales blow hard,
Reef, Reef betimes—nor trust the Fallacy.
A CARD to VENUS.
In imitation of the Thirtieth ODE, of the first Book of HORACE.
O Venus, Regina Cnidi &c.
COME Venus, come, and make us blest,
Mine, and my
Chloe's welcome Guest!
What tho' thy
Cyprus should repine,
While in our happy Seat you shine,
Our happy Seat shall grateful prove,
And Incense shall reward thy Love.
Haste, and bring thy am'rous Boy,
And with him each attendant Joy,
Youth, and her thousand Charms, that lye
In dimpled Cheek, or laughing Eye;
Wit, whom the Pow'r of Beauty moves,
And Beauty, which true Wit approves.—
W
[...]l make, if with this Train you come,
O
[...]
Ch
[...]'s House the
Graces' Home.
A TRANSLATION.
As Chloe
on Flowers reclin'd o'or the Stream, &c.
I.
FLORIBUS inclinans Fluvii sub Margine pictis,
Plorabat lachrymans
Thyrsida maesta
Chloe;
Distribuere
[...]t
[...]i Sertumque & ventus Odores,
Haud Requies Pectus Virginis ulla fovet.
II.
Cursu praecipiti fallax elabitur Amnis,
Et fluctus ripae vix tetigere torum;
Perfida blanditiis en! vafritreque decora,
Insidias referunt Flumina,
Thyrsi, tuas.
III.
Qui leni nuper spirabat flamine Ventus,
Caecat nunc atris Imbribus, ecce, diem!
Leniter ut spirans, ut tempestate laborans,
Sic
Thrysis placidus, sic rabieque tumens.
IV.
Floribus excerptis, gemmáto Germine pictis,
Virginis ante pedes, heu! decus omne perit;
Thyrisida disjunctum referunt, cum perdita forma est,
Praesentemque refert
Thyrsida forma recens.
V.
Expes, ecce,
Chloe rabie jam concita surgit,
A pedibusque furens languida serta jacit;
Dimittit fluvio lachrymas, suspiria Ventis,
Et temere exclamat "perfide
Thyrsi, vale!"
VI.
Ira tamen qualis!
—Thyrsis quando obvius ibat,
Dispulit en! nubes Solis Imago micans!
Dispulit en!
Phoebus languorem floribus!—iram,
Adveniens
Thyrsis dispulit atque
Chloes.
To AMASIA, With a FAN, whereon was represented CUPID with his Bow bent, and APOLLO behind directing him where to shoot.
I.
THYRSIS, who ne'er had felt Love's Smart,
Or
Cupid's Pow'r confest,
Once to
Apollo made his Court,
And thus his Pray'r addrest.
II.
Bright Pow'r, from thee, and only thee,
I'll deign to take my Doom;
Thy Wisdom must with Beauty join,
Ere I can be o'ercome.
III.
Beauty alone is but a Glass,
Wherein an Image shines,
Which pleases only when we're near,
But when we're gone, declines.
IV.
Give me the Nymph, whose Mind is bright,
And perfect as her Face:
Where Sense improves what Beauty gave,
And heightens ev'ry Grace.
V.
Such only merits my Regard,
And can my Passion move;
Shew me
this Fair, with Joy I'll own,
I'll feel the Force of Love.
VI.
"Such Worth, (reply'd the God) alone
"
Amasia can impart;
"See
Venus reigning in her Eyes,
"
Apollo in her Heart!"
To the SAME.
WHILE thus in scorching Fires I burn,
Amasia doubts the ardent Flame;
What, tho' in silent Grief I mourn,
Each Heart-felt Sigh breathes forth her Name.
O could my Pray'rs inspire her Heart
To feel the Rapture she bestows!—
Yet how can I my Pains impart,
When Honor, Virtue are my Foes?
Yes—so extravagant my Flame,
All Obstacles it can remove;
Honor and Virtue, cease your Claim,
What, what are ye, alas, to Love?
In vain do
Sophists preach that Heav'n,
Has Charms conceal'd from mortal View;
They know not what a Pledge was giv'n;
They ne'er,
Amasia, gaz'd on you.
Then, in this Extasy of Pain,
Bid me not from your Sight retreat,
Let me one heav'nly Smile obtain,
And breath my Ardors at your Feet.
May soft Compassion melt your Heart,
To ease the Agonies I feel!—
In vain I try their Force t'impart;
They're more than Language can reveal.
O, then behold my dying Eyes,
This trickling Tear my Pains may prove;
Or read in these Heart-rending Sighs,
Silence is eloquent in Love.
Since, tho' your Cruelty can kill,
Your Tenderness can bid me live;
Then Mercy's soft Commands fulfil,
And if you cannot bless—forgive.
By Nature to the
Indian's shewn,
An Antidote for pois'nous Pains,
And who the Venom caus'd alone
Can chase it from the scorching Veins;
Thus, Fair-one, thou'rt in Justice bound,
To ease the Anguish I endure;
Thou could'st alone inflict the Wound,
Thou canst alone apply the Cure.
ODE to CUPID.
Sent to CLEORA, on New-Years-Day, with WALLER's Poems.
I.
AH! tell me,
Cupid, lovely Boy,
To ease a Wound thy Arrow gave
Wilt thou for once thy Hand employ,
And serve a Youth, who lives thy Slave?
No more the
Paphian Shrines shall shew
They with unequal'd Lustre glow:
Thy Altars shall thy Mother's Pride o'erturn,
To thee shall far more grateful Incense burn;
Great God of Love, vouchsafe to smile,
And thus I'll rear a nobler Pile.
II.
The sacred
Myrtle shall conspire,
To kindle youthful
Hammond's Lyre:
Next, folded in a
Laurel Shade,
I'll place the constant
Nut-brown Maid—
Blooming in Verse, for ever young;
As Fancy drew when
Prior sung.
With
Willow bound, shall deck the Shrine—
With
Roses wreath'd I'll crown the Lays
That
Granville sigh'd in
Mira's Praise—
In
Cypress vaild I'll add to these
The mournful Notes of
Eloise—
And
Cowley too, whose Lines impart
The plaintive Sorrows of his Heart,
His
Swan-like Muse, that dying sung so well,
Shall grace again that Fane at which he fell.
III.
And, tho' such Off'rings well require
A Torch of bright
Promethean Fire,
To raise a far more
brillant Flame,
I'll softly sigh
Cleora's Name.—
Ah bear this Gift with rapid flight,
And place it in my Charmer's Sight;
Conceal my Name, but say I sought,
To find an Emblem of her Thought—
The lovely Image to obtain,
Tell her how long I sought in Vain,
'Till
Waller shew'd his heav'nly Strain.
IV.
Waller—who tunes his matchless Song,
Soft as her Heart, and as her Reason strong.
[Page 26] Where'er she turns, each Gazer views
Her Motion graceful as his Muse.
Were'er she looks, what Heart denies,
His Fancy sparkles in her Eyes?—
O then convey with choicest Care
This faithful Mirror of my Fair,
And softly whisper in her Ear,
I seal'd it with a Kiss sincere,
This Day, that
leads the circling Year.
V.
Tell her that
Time is jealous grown
I count my Life by her alone:
Her Absence dares invade his Pow'r,
And turn a Minute to an Hour;—
For which, whene'er she charms my Sight,
The hoary Tyrant's envious Spite
Makes Hours like Moments wing their flight.
VI.
This said—Ah! gen'rous God, be kind,
And search the Answer of her Mind.
If kind Reflection shou'd suggest,
Who 'tis that feels what you express'd,
Wide spread thy Pinions, quickly fly,
And tell me that she thinks, 'tis I.
VI.
But if (each Thought of me o'erthrown)
My
hapless Verse remains unknown:
Or if, by
fickle Fortune fir'd,
She scorns to hear what you inspir'd,
On
me alone thy Vengeance fall,
And let my Woes attone for all!
Dying, my Soul this Suit prefers,
Tear, tear, my Breast—but pity her's!
PSALM 57, PARAPHRAS'D.
I.
BE merciful, O GOD, and save
My Soul; in Thee her Trust is plac'd;
Thy Wings for Shelter let me have,
Until this Tyranny be past.
II.
To Thee, who Help alone canst lend,
Both
late and
early will I call:
Thou, from on high, shalt me defend
'Gainst him, who would my Feet entral.
III.
My
Soul is in the
Lion's Den,
(My Enemies are gather'd Round:)
Beset with wicked Sons of Men,
Whose Tongues like Spears and Arrows wound.
VI.
LORD, to deliver me appear,
Above the Heav'n thy Beauties raise,
Thy
glorious Majesty uprear,
And o'er the Earth thy Brightness blaze.
V.
Maliciously their Snares they laid,
And to oppress me sorely sought
In vain—the LORD flew to my Aid,
And in the Snare themselves are caught.
VI.
Oh! how shall I thy Goodness praise?—
The Heart, which Thou hast sav'd, receive!
Awake, my Lute! thy Raptures raise!
To GOD eternal Honors give!
VII.
Among the Nations will I sing,
And with my Voice the
Temple rend:
Thy Mercies reach to Heav'n, Great King,
Thy
Glories to the
Clouds extend.
VIII.
In full Effulgence, LORD, appear,
Above the Heav'ns thy Beauties raise!
Thy Glorious Majesty uprear,
And o'er the Earth thy Brightness blaze!
§ LAVINIA to AEGISTHUS.
SHUT from the World, and cloister'd from the Sun,
Ere half my Race of early Life is run,
Betray'd by hapless Love to endless Care,
Condemn'd to deep Distress, and dark Despair,
Why do I thus recal my fatal Woes,
Why, why by Recollection kill Repose?
—O Memory! Reviver of each Pain,
How long must I endure thy hated Reign?
Wilt thou for ever labor to renew
The pleasing Hours, which once, alas! I knew?
[Page 30] —Hours no more pleasing—the dear Youth is gone,
And with him ev'ry Happiness is flown.—
For ever must these Agonies remain,
Still must I wish for Ease, still wish in vain?
Why could not Love, that Tyrant of my Heart,
Cease his proud Reign, and with the Cause depart?
Why should his Pleasures but ideal be,
Yet all his Tortures prove—Reality?
—O come, thou first, thou best belov'd of Men,
Compose my raging Thoughts, and guide my Pen.
Teach me, like thee, to scorn these Frowns of Fate,
To laugh at Love, and all his idle State;
His soothing Joys without his Pains to feel;—
To this torn Breast that happy Art reveal.
Or, for these Pangs, which I thro' thee endure,
(Thou, who alone couldst cause, alone canst cure)
Teach me thy Loss no longer to regret;
O teach that harder Science—to forget.
—He hears not, or regardless hears my Moan,—
Must I endure these Pangs, and I alone?
'Tis just I should—my throbbing Sighs are vain;
I first indulg'd, and last should feel the Pain.
TRANSPORTED thus, I've fail'd in my Design;
'Tis Passion, and not Reason paints the Line.
[Page 31] I meant to speak the Virtues of his Youth,
His open Heart—his Honesty and Truth.
He is too gen'rous to augment my Care,
Or raise a Sorrow, which he would not share.
YE blooming Nymphs, who feel Love's tender Flame,
May worth like his the rising Transport claim!
Who dares each vicious Principle remove,
And scorns t'insult the Heart he cannot love.
Be such your Lot!—but ne'er like me to mourn
Or feel the Pains of Love without Return!
WHEN this poor Form shall in Oblivion lye,
When Hope, and Fear, and Joy neglected dye,
If e'er in after-times ye chance to stray,
Where the tall
Elms mark yonder gloomy Way,
Th' Inscription read, which that most lov'd of Men
Has deign'd to dictate to my trembling Pen.
EPITAPH.
BENEATH (O late Enjoyment!) sleeps in Peace,
For the first Time, a young, unhappy Fair;
Blest was the Moment, when she found this Ease,
Her first of Pleasure, and her last of Care.
To One ill-omen'd Hour, and fatal Youth,
The undesigning Author of her Woes,
She gave ('twas all she had) unspotted Truth,
And gain'd at length ('twas all she ask'd) Repose.
No farther search into her hapless Lot,
Nor blame the Failings of her guardless Bloom;
Since Love unsullied decks the hallow'd Spot,
And stainless Virtue consecrates the Tomb.
To ASPASIA, A BIRTH-DAY ODE.
Hic Dies vere mihi festus atras
Eximet Curas
HORAT. Lib. 3. Od. 14.
WHAT, no unusual splendid Ray?
No Blaze to usher in the Day?
No brighter Sun to tell the Earth
This Morning gave
Aspasia Birth?
No Glories more than common giv'n,
No Grace pecular from Heav'n?
None, at this fair auspicious Time?
—Imperfectly methought I said,
By Fancy's airy Visions led,—
When
Venus to my dreaming Sense
Appears, and thus rebukes me—'Hence,
'Thou idle, weak Complainant!—cease—
'Nor tire the Pow'rs with Cries like these.
'What Blaze need usher in the Morn,
'When Truth and Probity was born?
'Aspasia wants no Ray divine—
'Once form'd, she self-adorn'd doth shine.
'No bounteous Godhead of the Sky
'Was absent, at her Birth, save I.
'Minerva gave her Store of Sense,
'And (to display it) Eloquence.
'Cupid bestow'd a chosen Dart,
'And plac'd it very near her Heart,
'To fight, to conquer—or to move
'The jocund Soul to laughing Love.
'Majestic
Juno's Care supply'd
'Her tender Breast with honest Pride;
'Such Pride as teaches to subdue
'Each sordid Art and gainful View;
'Misfortune's Garb, and Poverty.
'Some Power of inferior Station
'Gave Meekness, Patience, Resignation—
'Wistless to wrong, to pardon free,
'Heav'n's loveliest Child, Humanity;
'Stranger to Censure, or Caprice,
'Who into Virtue construes Vice;
'For ever diligent to trace
'The fairest Meaning of the Case;
'And deckt with Tears still free to flow
'In pity to the Suff'rer's Woe.—
'Some wond'rous Virtues all have given,
'Sacred, and Favourites of Heaven;
'That wear their Glories in their Name,
'And want no Blazon to proclaim.
'Then, Mortal, thy Complaints give o'er—
'Hear—see—be silent, and adore!'
YET deign, fair Goddess, I rejoin'd,
To solve one Doubt within my Mind.
Whence is't, that on so sweet, so fair
'Semblage of Qualities thus rare,
Thy beauteous Mark has not been set,
To make the Image quite compleat?
'Mortal, had I my Pow'r employ'd,
'And superadded
Beauty's Pride,
'The Form would much too fair have been,
'Too beauteous for the Sons of Men;
'Too rich for mortal Shape t'have guarded,
'Too good for Earth to have rewarded,
'Too great for future Bliss t'have mended,
'And more than Woman was intended.'
SHE fled—and instant fled away
My Vision.—I return'd to Day.
Then to
Aspasia ran, to view
Whence
Fancy's Pen her Picture drew;
Where wrapt I stood in Bliss extreme,
Surpriz'd to find, 'twas not a
Dream.
To the SAME. A NEW-YEAR'S ODE.
I.
AS late in
Fancy's Lap entranc'd I lay,
Dozing my softer Hours away:
(Fairer than
Ida was the Mount she prest,
In Nature's richest Verdure drest,
The Earth with roseat Fragrance did abound,
And all methought was Paradise around;)
Array'd in Summer's fairest Vest,
A Nymph with tripping Motion came;
In gentle Accents, smiling she addrest
My list'ning Sense—and
Fortune was her Name.
II.
'Long has the cens'ring World my Pow'r despis'd,
'Of ev'ry Worth my Favor dispossest,
'To prove me blind malicious Tales devis'd,
'And say, thro' me that Merit ne'er is blest.
Mortal, to thee, (nay cease to bend)
'My Suit I make, and thy Assistance crave—
'My Honors to retrieve thy Influence lend,
'And from malicious Slander save.
III.
'There is a Nymph (with Blushes I must own)
'To whom alas! too long I've been unknown:
'Who can my Gifts behold with unregarding Eyes,
'And
all my Pow'r to harm defies.
'Some more than human Strength supports her Mind,
'Some Resolution not to Earth confin'd;
'Alike esteem'd my Favor and my Frown.
IV.
'One
Smile from her would soon destroy
'Malice and
Envy's deadliest Rage;
'Would hebetate
fell Satire's keen Annoy,
'And all my Cares assuage.
'No more should Men this partial Maxim mind,
'Fortune is fickle, false, and blind,
'But all should own with Joy sincere,
'Her Pow'r is fix'd, her Judgment clear,
'This Day that leads the circling Year.
V.
'Lo! what a
Garland is before thee laid,
'Of Flowers cropt from
Nature's richest Tree!
'Bestow them ALL on Honor's fav'rite Maid—
'Why dost thou pause?
—Aspasia must be she.
[Page 38] 'Behold this Branch of PLEASURE's
gilded Plant,
'Whereon the Flow'r CONTENT doth grow!
'And here's AFFECTION's Leaf, of Sweetness nothing scant,
'Whence PEACE of MIND it's gentle Bud shall blow,
VI.
'Lo! here a flaunting Branch of WEALTH I've brought,
'Plant, that shall never cease to bloom!
'(For which from Age to Age whole Worlds in Toil have sought)
'With FRIENDSHIP's od'rous Sprig to lend divine Perfume;
'And here of LOVE, to crown it
all,
'This middle Branch expanding,
fair, and
tall,
'Stole from the Youth, whom most the Virgin loves.
VII.
'With
awful Rev'rence, at her Virtue's shrine
'Lowly present the fragrant Wreath;
'More to commend it, let no Praise be mine,
'Say
Fate, not
Fortune doth the Gift bequeath!
'Ah! should she
kindly deign receive
'What I with more than duteous Pleasure give,
'My Pow'r, my Honor shall for ay survive.
VIII.
'Mortal in thee I must confide,
'In this thy strictest Faith be try'd!—
[Page 39] I bow'd, in Token of my promis'd Care,
And look'd Obedience—ere I had exprest
My Thanks, thus honor'd with so fair Behest,
She vanish'd into Air.
IX.
The Garden, where I lay, now o'er and o'er
With curious Search I 'gan t'explore;
So rich a
Chaplet to contain
A suited Cage to form all Art were vain.
Yet of the rarest Twigs, the Muse could find,
In
artful, plyant Foldings twin'd,
A neat Receptacle (the best she could) she join'd,
That no
unhallow'd Touch the
Garland might prophane.
X.
ESTEEM his nervous
Stem provides
The
Groundwork to compose;
HONOR and fairest TRUTH connect the sinuous
Sides;
While here and there, between the Chains,
FRATERNAL LOVE, (like Ore thro' Nature's richest Veins)
It's supple Sweetness shews.
XI.
MODESTY's tender Leaf o'ercover'd all,
Preserving from inclement Air.—
Thus, well-secur'd, the Muse shall lowly fall,
Regardful of the Goddess' great Intent,
With sacred Wishes, and right faithful Pray'r.
XII.
O may this
Chaplet heighten it's Perfume,
And Day by Day improve!
Each
Flow'r contain'd each Moment richer
WEALTH, PLEASURE, FRIENDSHIP, LOVE!
Henceforth no
Blast, no
Damp come near,
But all in fresher Sweets enrob'd appear
Each Day that leads each circling Year!
AMELIA to EUCRATES, While on her Death-Bed.
ERE these sad Lines arrive, which now I send
The fondest Husband and the truest Friend,
Those tender
Titles will no longer prove
The
living Tokens of our
mutual Love;
*
[Page 41] No more furvive.—For since that fatal Day,
When from my Bosom thou wert torn away
The
rigid Call of Honor to obey,
My Malady's increas'd; my End I see:
And Health, and Joy, and Life, all fled with thee.
THAT fond Regard, I owe the best of Men,
Alone enables me to use my Pen;
The Pain to write I scarce can undergo,
And my Tears trickle where the Ink shou'd flow.
Yet the sole Terror Death presents to View,
Oh much-lov'd Consort, is, to part from you.
Else wherefore should I fear his sure Behest?
—No unrepenting Folly loads my Breast;
No Guilt inexpiate I leave behind,
No vicious Love, that dares
pollute my Mind.
But in reflecting on those tender Hours,
When Love, and Peace, and Happiness were ours,
I re-enjoy our ev'ry
Pleasure past;
And sigh, to think they can no longer last.
—Is this a Crime? to wish their lasting Stay,
And strive to put the Stroke of Death away?
No—sure 'tis Piety's and Virtue's Task,
For such Enjoyments Length of Days to ask;
[Page 42] Those rapt'rous Moments once more to redeem,
When Love, and Love alone was
all our Theme;
When social Tenderness approv'd the Flame,
And Friendship sanctify'd a Husbands Name.
SINCE 'tis not ours t'explore the Work of Fate,
But descant darkly on that future State,
Where Vice shall meet it's due proportion'd Pain,
And Virtue lasting Happiness attain,
Why may we not
(t'alleviate the Strife
'Twixt Hope and Fear, when we resign this Life,)
At least indulge a Wish, that we may know,
Each Stroke that's aim'd at Mortals here below?
And be employ'd perhaps, to guide their Ways,
With whom in Life we pass'd our guiltless Days?
—May I, o'er thee a Guardian
Angel plac'd,
Unseen, allay the Conflicts in thy Breast!
No more, as now, a
weak and
fearful Mate,
To
sigh, and
wish away the Stroke of Fate;
But meet Misfortune with undaunted Eye,
Rush
boldly on, and Death's worst Pow'r defy!
Incapable of Wound thy Steps attend,
Thy lovely Face in
Battle to defend!
To view each threat'ning Danger from afar,
And shield thee in the dreadful Hour of War!
OR, when a Fever rages thro' the Veins,
Torn, and inflam'd with agonizing Pains,
Obsequious to tend the gloomy Bed,
And, in the drooping Moment, raise thy Head;
Infuse the
Balm of
Patience in thy Breast,
In
Slumber close thine Eyes, and watch thy Rest!
No greater Happiness can I implore;
Be this my future Lot!—I ask no more.
BY these Ideas to my Fate resign'd,
I
smile at Death, and cheer my languid Mind.
But Oh!
your Torture, when you must deplore
Your lost
Amelia—your's alas! no more!—
Revives my Torment, tears my lab'ring Heart;
Now, now I feel what Anguish 'tis to part!
Your Woes alone
too fatally declare
That Death has Terrors, and that I can fear!
BUT hold—my Tenderness has rais'd a Pain,
Which in oblivion ever should remain.
Be dumb my Love!—yet can I give relief,
Or waft one Comfort to assuage thy Grief!
No—Consolation will in Vain be sent
By her whose Loss your gen'rous Tears lament.
[Page 44] Cease then—in
Silence be my Pains exprest!
My Moments now are short—Oh! guess the rest—
If I'm myself, my latest Breath shall flow
In Pray'rs for thee—the least of what I owe.
No more thy
much-lov'd Image shall I view;
No longer sigh, my
Life, my
Soul, Adieu!
* BELVIDERE, (a POEM) addrest to ETHELINDA.
Fortunati ambo! si quid mea carmina possunt,
Nulla dies unquam memori vos eximet aevo.
VIRG. Aen. 2. 446.
A WHILE forego your darling Seat,
Hither from
Henry's Breast retreat,
Candor, Humanity, and Friendship dear!
While, by your Aid, and in your Praise,
The grateful Note I strive to raise,
To Virtue, Love, Content, and
Belvidere.
II.
Graces, that
warm and
glad the Heart,
To me your brightest Force impart,
The Worth I know ah! let me
truly tell!
Well may ye deign my Pray'r to hear,
Full well, I wot, ye
all are near,
For where your
Henry is, ye surely dwell.
III.
Henry, who bids my Heart to glow
With Pity, for the Suff'rer's Woe,
And to the Shiv'ring Wretch Relief extend,
Shall I not joy to speak his Praise,
Who well might merit better Lays,
My
Guardian, Guide, Philosopher, and
Friend!
IV.
Not his the Pride of shining Spires,
(Uneasy Seat of high Desires)
Nor glitt'ring Pomp of Equipage and Shew!
But his, to feel the Stranger's Sigh,
To wipe the trickling aged Eye,
And from the grief-swoln Bosom banish Woe.
V.
The Spot which Nature's self did frame,
(Ere Art to her Assistance came,)
[Page 46] Blooming
Hygea's best-belov'd Retreat,
Is, by his free unsparing Hand,
Become rich Bounty's fav'rite Land,
And Charity's thrice hospitable Seat.
VI.
While yet it rustles thro' the Trees,
Quick let me catch the Morning Breeze,
And, ere it flies, enjoy the wholesome Gale!
Prostrate thy
Belvidere beside,
Applaud the Mountain's lofty Pride,
Or praise the
humble Glories of the
Vale!
VII.
Now, in the bright
meridian Blaze,
Soft let me shun the scorching Rays,
With
Henry's Worth domestic Hours employ!
Behold him, with
delighted Gaze,
From Mis'ry's Gripe the Orphan raise,
And teach the Widow's Heart to sing for Joy.
VIII.
Or in the length'ning Shades of Night,
(The Landscape glimm'ring on the Sight)
[Page 47] Her
palid Queen with Rev'rence let me greet!
While from above you
azure Hills,
With solemn Joy my
Soul she fills,
And the dank
*
Nore slow murmurs at my Feet.
IX.
While yet the Infant Structure smil'd,
Thus
Henry ev'ry Care beguil'd,
(Thro' Acts long past Poetic thought can rove,)
'Child of my Hopes, auspicious rise,
'Omen of many future Joys!
'And sacred Rest to
Ethelinda's Love!'
X.
The
Walls, which Virtue thus did raise,
Now vocal with their Maker's
Praise,
Full sore, I ween, the Grief that dare intrude!
Yet the shak'd Head, and stifled sigh,
Withouten Words, th' Approach descry
Of Care that
swells the Heart, and Sorrow rude.
XI.
How little ah! would Care avail,
Or dire Misfortune's worst Assail,
[Page 48] Could
Henry, Ethelinda's Grief remove!
On her is fix'd the
languid Eye,
For her up-rises ev'ry Sigh,
As
all his Joys are center'd in her Love.
XII.
While thus enwrapt in Thought I stray,
Methinks I hear a Spirit say,
'Here Virtue dwells, and will forever rest;
'But varies her unsettled Feet,
'Nor yet can fix her lasting Seat,
"Till with her
Ethelinda's Presence blest.
XIII.
'She
Henry's Heart with Love can warm,
'With native Elegance can charm,
'And add to Beauty Graces more refin'd;
'With Converse sensible and gay.
'Can smile domestic Hours away,
'And
calm the
rising Tumults in his Mind.
XIV.
Tho' now those honest Joys deny'd,
Be Hope, my Fair, thy constant Guide!
The Time will come, to chace thy present Woes,
When Love so perfect, Truth so bright
As thine and
Henry's must unite,
And dwell for aye, in undisturb'd Repose.
XV.
The youngling Muse a Moment spare,
That now he drops a silent Tear,
And softly sighs his lov'd
Amasia's Name—
Forgive—o'erlook the tender Line,
That mingles other Praise with thine,
But my Heart swells to own her early Claim.
XVI.
Such, such as thine her blooming Youth,
Her Virtue, Tenderness, and Truth,
If Virtue such as thine be found on Earth;
Humanity and Honor join'd
To form a great and humble Mind,
And Goodness' self was proud to speak her Worth.
XVII.
From Virtue such as her's to part,
While in the foldings of my Heart
She liv'd with Life, and far the dearer she,
How hard!—yet robb'd, by cruel Pow'r,
Of Love's assuasive, softer Hour,
She lives (ah! cruel Stars!) no more for me.
XVIII.
O let me then admire in thee,
What my
Amasia us'd to be,
With my Soul's Hope thy gen'rous Wishes join!
May thy own
Henry waft a Part
Of that vast Worth, which fills his Heart,
And be a second
Ethelinda mine!
FINIS.