 | Metrical Effusions |  |
50
A WINTER PIECE
To Friendship.
BY A LADY.
Dread Winter rules! and o'er the ravag'd plain
The whistling whirlwind and the tempest roar;
Deep sounding caves reecho back the strain,
And the hoarse murmur creeps along the shore.
The whistling whirlwind and the tempest roar;
Deep sounding caves reecho back the strain,
And the hoarse murmur creeps along the shore.
No sportive lambs frisk o'er the verdant lawn,
Or bleat responsive to the echoing vale;
No more fresh breezes scent the breath of morn,
Or balmy fragrance loads the evening gale.
Or bleat responsive to the echoing vale;
No more fresh breezes scent the breath of morn,
Or balmy fragrance loads the evening gale.
51
Mute every voice that warbled through the grove,
Melodious concert! harmony of sound!
Silent the stock-dove's tender tale of love
And one sad, dreary horror reigns around.
Melodious concert! harmony of sound!
Silent the stock-dove's tender tale of love
And one sad, dreary horror reigns around.
Ah! sad transition from the late lov'd scene,
When beauteous May led on the smiling hours;
And nature deck'd the velvet vested green
With the rich fragrance of unnumber'd flowers.
When beauteous May led on the smiling hours;
And nature deck'd the velvet vested green
With the rich fragrance of unnumber'd flowers.
Yet to fond Fancy's raptur'd eye shall rise
Each former scene, in heighten'd beauty drest;
Aurora's charms shall paint the orient skies,
And blushing crimson tinge the glowing west.
Each former scene, in heighten'd beauty drest;
Aurora's charms shall paint the orient skies,
And blushing crimson tinge the glowing west.
Ideal bliss! without thy soothing aid,
Mid' scenes of care how oft would droop the heart;
Without thy veil, the ills of life to shade,
How deep their anguish, and how keen their smart.
Mid' scenes of care how oft would droop the heart;
Without thy veil, the ills of life to shade,
How deep their anguish, and how keen their smart.
52
Whether the purple morn, with loveliest hues
Display its radiance; or, at closing day,
O'er the green plains descend refreshing dews,
And balmy gales, half slumbering, scarcely play:
Display its radiance; or, at closing day,
O'er the green plains descend refreshing dews,
And balmy gales, half slumbering, scarcely play:
Whether thy stream, fair Eden! gently glide;
Or discompos'd by floods impetuous roll,
Whether, when deeply musing by its side,
It soothe to peace, or agitate the soul:
Or discompos'd by floods impetuous roll,
Whether, when deeply musing by its side,
It soothe to peace, or agitate the soul:
Yet still, through shades where more than Eden blooms,
Shall Fancy rove in happiest visions blest;
Feel the mild breeze, iuhale the rich perfume,
And dream o'er scenes in charms romantic drest.
Shall Fancy rove in happiest visions blest;
Feel the mild breeze, iuhale the rich perfume,
And dream o'er scenes in charms romantic drest.
What though the tempest roar, the thunders roll,
And gathering clouds obscure the solar ray;
Virtue's mild radiance shall illume the soul,
And heaven-born truth shall beam the mental day.
And gathering clouds obscure the solar ray;
Virtue's mild radiance shall illume the soul,
And heaven-born truth shall beam the mental day.
53
Shall we make joy dependant on an hour?
Or to these transient scenes confine our view?
Too short the period placed within our power,
Too frail the fleeting objects we pursue.
Or to these transient scenes confine our view?
Too short the period placed within our power,
Too frail the fleeting objects we pursue.
Are there no roses blooming in the breast,
Whose fragrance wintry storms can ne'er destroy?
No hoarded sweets? no lov'd attachment, drest
By Hope's kind hand, in all the robes of joy?
Whose fragrance wintry storms can ne'er destroy?
No hoarded sweets? no lov'd attachment, drest
By Hope's kind hand, in all the robes of joy?
Yes! Friendship, beauteous form! unwounded lives,
Her sacred influence all the soul inspires;
Dear to the heart are all the joys she gives,
Still undiminish'd burn her heavenly fires.
Her sacred influence all the soul inspires;
Dear to the heart are all the joys she gives,
Still undiminish'd burn her heavenly fires.
Hail! Goddess, hail! to thee let altars rise,
And incense sweet, with votive gifts be paid;
Around thy shrine shall blush unnumber'd dyes,
And verdant myrtles yield a grateful shade.
And incense sweet, with votive gifts be paid;
Around thy shrine shall blush unnumber'd dyes,
And verdant myrtles yield a grateful shade.
54
Never didst thou the obdurate bosom melt,
The sordid breast was ne'er thy favorite throne;
But Love and Pity ever with thee dwelt
And each fair virtue's mild effulgence shone,
The sordid breast was ne'er thy favorite throne;
But Love and Pity ever with thee dwelt
And each fair virtue's mild effulgence shone,
Through every changeful scene, and varying hour,
Through Winter's storms, and Summer's verdant bloom.
Thy ever soothing, animating power,
Cheers the fond heart with pleasures yet to come.
Through Winter's storms, and Summer's verdant bloom.
Thy ever soothing, animating power,
Cheers the fond heart with pleasures yet to come.
| Metrical Effusions | |