Poems By Mr. Polwhele. In three volumes |
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THE SCARLET FEVER. |
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232
THE SCARLET FEVER.
SEPT. 1801.
Whilst fever from the sultry east
Effus'd her venom pale;
Her raven “snuff'd the promis'd feast,”
And croak'd in every gale.
Effus'd her venom pale;
Her raven “snuff'd the promis'd feast,”
And croak'd in every gale.
In yon low dell, where nigh the thatch
The hops in clusters spread,
I saw the unconscious victim stretch
His little hands for aid;
The hops in clusters spread,
I saw the unconscious victim stretch
His little hands for aid;
Or, vainly pant for zephyrs cool
Within that steamy creek;
Or there, beside the rush-green pool,
Betray the burning cheek.
Within that steamy creek;
Or there, beside the rush-green pool,
Betray the burning cheek.
233
I saw the maid, who sweetly bloom'd,
Draw quick her poison'd breath;
And those fine eyes, that love illum'd,
For ever clos'd in death.
Draw quick her poison'd breath;
And those fine eyes, that love illum'd,
For ever clos'd in death.
Yet, “Here (I cried) this sloping hill
“Hygeia! be thy care!
“As freshness from the shade and rill
“Shall fan the tainted air.
“Hygeia! be thy care!
“As freshness from the shade and rill
“Shall fan the tainted air.
“Here, as their tales my children lisp,
“Or frolic down the green,
“Shall fruits in acid ripeness crisp,
“Inspirit every vein.
“Or frolic down the green,
“Shall fruits in acid ripeness crisp,
“Inspirit every vein.
“Here, Mary! never shall a sigh
“Thy placid bosom move;
“Nor e'er a languish dim thine eye,
“Unless it be from—love!”
“Thy placid bosom move;
“Nor e'er a languish dim thine eye,
“Unless it be from—love!”
234
Such was my strain. In soften'd shade
The evening sunk away;
As health with roses seem'd to braid
The glimmering car of day.
The evening sunk away;
As health with roses seem'd to braid
The glimmering car of day.
Alas! in fairy hopes like these,
How impious to repose!
Soon, dropping from his wing disease,
The lurid morning rose.
How impious to repose!
Soon, dropping from his wing disease,
The lurid morning rose.
Blushing no longer as they blush'd
A few short hours ago,
I view my offspring fever-flusht,
And shivering as they glow.
A few short hours ago,
I view my offspring fever-flusht,
And shivering as they glow.
Say, Mary! can I tell the rest?
Alas! thy sickening charms!
And clinging to thy scarlet breast
Thy poor babe's feeble arms.
Alas! thy sickening charms!
And clinging to thy scarlet breast
Thy poor babe's feeble arms.
235
Parent of all! Thou good Supreme!
O mark my bended knee;
The liveliest hope is all a dream,
If uninspir'd by Thee.
O mark my bended knee;
The liveliest hope is all a dream,
If uninspir'd by Thee.
Father of Light! 'tis thine alone
To pour the healing balm!
Oh, as we fall before thy throne
Our throbbing pulses calm.
To pour the healing balm!
Oh, as we fall before thy throne
Our throbbing pulses calm.
These innocents, great Sire of Life!
Their mother—Oh, sustain!
Yes! to my sighs restore my wife,
Or all my prayers are vain!
Their mother—Oh, sustain!
Yes! to my sighs restore my wife,
Or all my prayers are vain!
| Poems | |