Juvenilia or, A collection of poems. Written between the ages of twelve and seventeen, by J. H. L. Hunt ... Fourth Edition |
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LINES ADDRESSED TO A PARTICULAR FRIEND,
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LINES ADDRESSED TO A PARTICULAR FRIEND,
On his Birth-Day, Jan. 20, 1800.
Winter o'er the spangled air
Scatters round his snow drops fair,
While the sharp Gales, as full of play,
Rude catch them on their dancing way,
And cast them at their early birth
On the hard bosom of the earth;
Till, as lamenting to be driv'n
So early from their native heav'n,
Or torn by secret fears;
Their mingled forms of lovely white
Sink slowly fading from the sight,
And melt away in tears.
Scatters round his snow drops fair,
While the sharp Gales, as full of play,
Rude catch them on their dancing way,
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On the hard bosom of the earth;
Till, as lamenting to be driv'n
So early from their native heav'n,
Or torn by secret fears;
Their mingled forms of lovely white
Sink slowly fading from the sight,
And melt away in tears.
Thus ye cold thoughts from hence depart,
Dark-eyed Jealousy, and Hate,
And freezing Diffidence, and loud Debate,
Melt on the glowing throbbings of my heart;
For there my raptur'd fancy flies,
To fan the flame that Friendship taught to rise.
Dark-eyed Jealousy, and Hate,
And freezing Diffidence, and loud Debate,
Melt on the glowing throbbings of my heart;
For there my raptur'd fancy flies,
To fan the flame that Friendship taught to rise.
Once more to grace the new-born year
On earth rolls round thy natal day;
Yet gloomy winter frowns severe
As slow he plods his frosty way;
But if in friendship's bosom fair
Lie Pleasure, with Content and Peace,
The glooms that crowd the troubled air
But tend that pleasure to increase.
So from earth's velvet couch, where gaily drest
In beauty wild the white-topt lily rose,
Torn up to glitter on an Ethiop's breast,
Its bed of jet new graces will disclose.
Then, dreary Terrors, melt along the sky,
And on sweet Friendship's bosom gay disperse,
For thrilling Joy shall soar where cold ye lie,
As high above she mounts on raptur'd verse:
On earth rolls round thy natal day;
Yet gloomy winter frowns severe
As slow he plods his frosty way;
But if in friendship's bosom fair
Lie Pleasure, with Content and Peace,
The glooms that crowd the troubled air
But tend that pleasure to increase.
So from earth's velvet couch, where gaily drest
In beauty wild the white-topt lily rose,
Torn up to glitter on an Ethiop's breast,
Its bed of jet new graces will disclose.
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And on sweet Friendship's bosom gay disperse,
For thrilling Joy shall soar where cold ye lie,
As high above she mounts on raptur'd verse:
“Lov'd youth, for thee may Friendship, smiling gay,
“Deck with fresh flow'rs her rich enchanting way;
“Still may impurpling Health, with dimple sleek,
“Live in the rose that blushes on thy cheek:
“Still in the gentle lustre of thine eye
“Soul-thrilling Joy with beam increasing lie;
“While mild Content, with Innocence and Peace,
“Descend from heav'n to smile upon thy face,
“And o'er thy head bring fresh-born blessings down,
“That ev'ry wish, and ev'ry want shall crown!
“Deck with fresh flow'rs her rich enchanting way;
“Still may impurpling Health, with dimple sleek,
“Live in the rose that blushes on thy cheek:
“Still in the gentle lustre of thine eye
“Soul-thrilling Joy with beam increasing lie;
“While mild Content, with Innocence and Peace,
“Descend from heav'n to smile upon thy face,
“And o'er thy head bring fresh-born blessings down,
“That ev'ry wish, and ev'ry want shall crown!
| Juvenilia | |