 | Poems by William Kendall |  |
25
OCCASIONAL VERSES.
Non isdegnate queste—
Picciole offerte si, ma pero tali
Che se con puro affetto il cor le dona
Anco il ciel non le sdegna.
Picciole offerte si, ma pero tali
Che se con puro affetto il cor le dona
Anco il ciel non le sdegna.
27
I. To LAURA.
ON HER PORTRAIT.
Let baffled art her skill forego—
She fails thy form to trace.
How faint reflected beauties glow,
How lifeless pictured grace!
She fails thy form to trace.
How faint reflected beauties glow,
How lifeless pictured grace!
Nymph of delight! what heavenly dies
Can looks of love display?
Impassion'd blushes, speaking eyes,
What pencil can pourtray?
Can looks of love display?
Impassion'd blushes, speaking eyes,
What pencil can pourtray?
Compared with thee, can language tell
How coldly colours shine?
Cold as they seem, they yet excel
All mortal charms but thine!
How coldly colours shine?
Cold as they seem, they yet excel
All mortal charms but thine!
28
II. To DELIA.
While mortal strains avail to bless
The lingering moments of distress—
While taste refined and polish'd ease,
And grace and matchless beauty please;
So long th' enraptured muse shall raise
To Delia's name the song of praise!
The lingering moments of distress—
While taste refined and polish'd ease,
And grace and matchless beauty please;
So long th' enraptured muse shall raise
To Delia's name the song of praise!
O, never, never, (since she fled,
For whom my bosom fondly bled,
For whom with unabating fire
My fervid lips still breathe desire)
More cruel seem'd time's swift career
Than when thy voice entranced my ear;
When wasting magic bliss around,
The harp awoke a plaintive sound;
When Delia's converse lull'd my woes,
And sorrow felt a short repose.
A short repose—no mortal strain
Can dissipate the rage of pain.
For whom my bosom fondly bled,
For whom with unabating fire
My fervid lips still breathe desire)
More cruel seem'd time's swift career
Than when thy voice entranced my ear;
When wasting magic bliss around,
The harp awoke a plaintive sound;
When Delia's converse lull'd my woes,
And sorrow felt a short repose.
29
Can dissipate the rage of pain.
30
III. SONG.
On Delia's cheek when love display'd
The timid smile of youth;
My soul adored an artless maid,
I vow'd eternal truth.
The timid smile of youth;
My soul adored an artless maid,
I vow'd eternal truth.
When time o'er every blooming grace
The glow of summer spread
New beauties sparkled o'er her face—
But all my passion fled!
The glow of summer spread
New beauties sparkled o'er her face—
But all my passion fled!
Thus, vernal roses sweeter seem
When morn's first blushes rise,
Than when the sun's maturer beam
Illumes meridian skies!
When morn's first blushes rise,
Than when the sun's maturer beam
Illumes meridian skies!
31
IV. To JULIA.
This curious eye that oft unfolds
The secret shades of mind,
In thee, with ravish'd beam, beholds
A maid from vice refined!
The secret shades of mind,
In thee, with ravish'd beam, beholds
A maid from vice refined!
Soft as thy soul, thy gentle mien
Bespeaks a spotless breast:
The storms that cloud life's dreary scene
Have spared the seat of rest.
Bespeaks a spotless breast:
The storms that cloud life's dreary scene
Have spared the seat of rest.
No roving wish thy glance betrays,
Nor darts malignant fire,
Thy modest smile disdains to raise
The tumult of desire.
Nor darts malignant fire,
Thy modest smile disdains to raise
The tumult of desire.
No restless thoughts by envy fed,
Assert their fierce controul,
Inflame thy cheek with guilty red,
Or rudely rend thy soul.
Assert their fierce controul,
Inflame thy cheek with guilty red,
Or rudely rend thy soul.
32
To these dire foes the powers of truth
Afford a firm defence,
Bright guardians of thine artless youth,
Thy maiden innocence.
Afford a firm defence,
Bright guardians of thine artless youth,
Thy maiden innocence.
Thee, Julia, virtue's pure-ey'd train,
Thee love himself reveres;
And when to bless th' exulting plain,
Thy tranquil form appears.
Thee love himself reveres;
And when to bless th' exulting plain,
Thy tranquil form appears.
With soften'd radiance beaming sweet,
The light of beauty breaks;
Nor scorches with meridian heat
The lillies of thy cheeks.
The light of beauty breaks;
Nor scorches with meridian heat
The lillies of thy cheeks.
Calm'd at thy presence, smoothly glide
The troubled streams of woe,
And gloomy terror's frantic tide
Awhile forgets to flow.
The troubled streams of woe,
And gloomy terror's frantic tide
Awhile forgets to flow.
How oft since Laura's bitter scorn
Stole all my joys away,
And gave my heart by passion torn
To fierce despair a prey;
Stole all my joys away,
And gave my heart by passion torn
To fierce despair a prey;
33
Thy chasten'd look, thy melting eye,
Thy voice that breathes delight,
Have bade grief's frowning spectre fly,
And chear'd the gloom of night!
Thy voice that breathes delight,
Have bade grief's frowning spectre fly,
And chear'd the gloom of night!
For thee my willing muse should pour
The flood of verse along,
For thee on daring pinions soar
Amid the blaze of song:
The flood of verse along,
For thee on daring pinions soar
Amid the blaze of song:
But Laura from my sleeping lyre
Hath torn the sweetest string;
And hopeless love's consuming fire
Hath scorch'd the muse's wing.
Hath torn the sweetest string;
And hopeless love's consuming fire
Hath scorch'd the muse's wing.
34
V. To MARIA.
On a favourite red-blossomed Thorn.
Tho' purest tints at opening morn
O'er Heaven's pale azure beam;
With purer lustre, lovely Thorn,
Thy rosy flowerets gleam.
O'er Heaven's pale azure beam;
With purer lustre, lovely Thorn,
Thy rosy flowerets gleam.
Yet vainly strives that fleeting bloom
With Mary's blush to vie:
Her blushes chear the wintery gloom
When all thy blossoms die!
With Mary's blush to vie:
Her blushes chear the wintery gloom
When all thy blossoms die!
35
VI. To Mr. JACKSON, Of Exeter.
The Bard who Pindar's
mighty name
Assuming, gains the steep of fame;
In deathless verse thy skill displays,
With magic sweetness sings thy praise:
Yet, minstrel of the Graces, hear
Unpolish'd songs tho' rude, sincere.
Assuming, gains the steep of fame;
In deathless verse thy skill displays,
With magic sweetness sings thy praise:
Yet, minstrel of the Graces, hear
Unpolish'd songs tho' rude, sincere.
Soother of love's severest pain,
The muse impassion'd prompts thy strain.
Strike, pensive strike the trembling string,
In soul-subduing measures sing!
With melody's divinest fire,
Like Orpheus animate the lyre!
The muse impassion'd prompts thy strain.
Strike, pensive strike the trembling string,
In soul-subduing measures sing!
With melody's divinest fire,
Like Orpheus animate the lyre!
36
I feel thy lays light-floating round—
My bosom vibrates at the sound:
In sweet oblivion lost, with thee
I sink in dreams of extasy.
Now, fancy-led my spirit flies
To fairer climes, to purer skies,
No fears disturb, no cares annoy,
Each thought is love, each accent joy.
My bosom vibrates at the sound:
In sweet oblivion lost, with thee
I sink in dreams of extasy.
Now, fancy-led my spirit flies
To fairer climes, to purer skies,
No fears disturb, no cares annoy,
Each thought is love, each accent joy.
The measures change! 'tis joy no more—
Of slighted vows the notes deplore.
My soul dissolves in tenderest woe,
Delicious tears unbidden flow!
So sadly pleasing seems my grief,
That scarce my bosom seeks relief;
So sweet the sorrowing songs aspire
I bless the pensive mourner's lyre;
Delighted hear his voice complain,
Nor, drown'd in rapture, heed his pain.
Of slighted vows the notes deplore.
My soul dissolves in tenderest woe,
Delicious tears unbidden flow!
So sadly pleasing seems my grief,
That scarce my bosom seeks relief;
So sweet the sorrowing songs aspire
I bless the pensive mourner's lyre;
Delighted hear his voice complain,
Nor, drown'd in rapture, heed his pain.
Had He
whose ever-during rhimes
Exalt the muse of elder times,
The muse whose all-commanding powers
Were witness'd in Athenian bowers,
Felt the pure bliss thy notes impart;
The Bard had own'd their equal art—
Since all the charms to thine belong,
His lays ascribe to Grecian song.
Exalt the muse of elder times,
37
Were witness'd in Athenian bowers,
Felt the pure bliss thy notes impart;
The Bard had own'd their equal art—
Since all the charms to thine belong,
His lays ascribe to Grecian song.
In the “Lyric Odes to the Royal Academicians,” for 1793, Peter Pindar has addressed an exquisite sonnet to the same gentleman.
38
VII. To LAURA.
An Imitation from Guarini.
Why frowns my fair? The mighty blissWas bought with equal smart.
I rudely stole a rapt'rous kiss,
I paid thee—with my heart!
MADRIGALE LXXI. Bacio rubato.
Non fu senza vendetta
Il mio furto soave:
Però non vi sia grave,
Dolci labra amorose,
Ch' a le vostre vermiglie, e fresche rose
Caro cibo involassi a 'i desir mici;
Se per pena del furto il cor perdei.
Il mio furto soave:
Però non vi sia grave,
Dolci labra amorose,
Ch' a le vostre vermiglie, e fresche rose
Caro cibo involassi a 'i desir mici;
Se per pena del furto il cor perdei.
39
VIII. SONG.
Nymphs! with balmy smiles caressing,
Hear the Poet breathe desire:
All his graceful numbers blessing,
Sweetly languish o'er his lyre!
Hear the Poet breathe desire:
All his graceful numbers blessing,
Sweetly languish o'er his lyre!
When the morn of beauty beaming,
Sheds for you her rosy rays;
His soft notes melodious-streaming
Waft to distant climes your praise.
Sheds for you her rosy rays;
His soft notes melodious-streaming
Waft to distant climes your praise.
When your charms in age declining
Lost to love no longer glow,
In his verse immortal shining
All your early graces blow!
Lost to love no longer glow,
In his verse immortal shining
All your early graces blow!
40
IX. IMPROMPTU.
Written on the sea-shore with a party of ladies.
Charm'd, we view the stormy mainWhile conflicting winds complain;
Charm'd, behold th' unruffled deep,
While the billowy horrors sleep.
Ever various as the seas
Thus can lovely woman please—
When her beauties smile serene,
Rapture dwells upon her mien;
When they flash their angry fire,
Tho' we tremble, we admire!
43
X. To MARIA.
On an incident at Chess.
Exulting, o'er the chequer'd land
I led to war my sable band,
Where firmly ranged in close array
Thy snow-clad legions urged their way:
Untimely on th' embattled plain
I saw my valiant leader slain,
Untimely mourn'd a slaughter'd host,
Tho' bent victorious wreaths to boast.
I led to war my sable band,
Where firmly ranged in close array
Thy snow-clad legions urged their way:
Untimely on th' embattled plain
I saw my valiant leader slain,
Untimely mourn'd a slaughter'd host,
Tho' bent victorious wreaths to boast.
How oft my scatter'd ranks between
Resistless march'd the white-arm'd Queen—
No phalanx check'd her rash career,
Each sable warriour shrunk with fear:
Till proud to shield his monarch's life,
Or perish in the glorious strife;
Before the Queen's unguarded crown
My turret spread a baleful frown:
The scepter'd Nymph her state maintain'd,
When nought but swift retreat remain'd,
Defenceless stood, delay'd her flight,
And sunk beneath the turret's might.
When grief disturb'd thy pensive mien
When angry accents mourn'd the Queen:
(Misdeeming all my valour won
By swift surprise alone undone)
Reluctant to the chequer'd board
My lingering hand the chief restored:
But e'er my foe resum'd her ground
Insulting triumph breathed a sound.
Resistless march'd the white-arm'd Queen—
No phalanx check'd her rash career,
Each sable warriour shrunk with fear:
Till proud to shield his monarch's life,
Or perish in the glorious strife;
44
My turret spread a baleful frown:
The scepter'd Nymph her state maintain'd,
When nought but swift retreat remain'd,
Defenceless stood, delay'd her flight,
And sunk beneath the turret's might.
When grief disturb'd thy pensive mien
When angry accents mourn'd the Queen:
(Misdeeming all my valour won
By swift surprise alone undone)
Reluctant to the chequer'd board
My lingering hand the chief restored:
But e'er my foe resum'd her ground
Insulting triumph breathed a sound.
Shock'd at the rude triumphant strain,
Resentment roused thee to complain:
From eyes that once serenely beam'd,
Indignant flashes wildly stream'd;
That placid form in anger rose,
Nor deign'd the doubtful fight to close.
Resentment roused thee to complain:
From eyes that once serenely beam'd,
Indignant flashes wildly stream'd;
That placid form in anger rose,
Nor deign'd the doubtful fight to close.
45
Confusion trembled thro' my frame,
My bosom glow'd with conscious shame.
New courage rose! ah, then, no more
His rashness could the bard deplore;
For, lovely mid thy soul's alarm,
Disdain had heighten'd every charm.
The rising blush expressive spread
O'er all thy cheek delicious red,
And sparkling glances fiercely bright
On every feature beam'd delight.
My bosom glow'd with conscious shame.
New courage rose! ah, then, no more
His rashness could the bard deplore;
For, lovely mid thy soul's alarm,
Disdain had heighten'd every charm.
The rising blush expressive spread
O'er all thy cheek delicious red,
And sparkling glances fiercely bright
On every feature beam'd delight.
Such lustre glowing looks impart,
So well reveal a feeling heart;
That while I pour this artless rhime,
I languish to repeat my crime!
So well reveal a feeling heart;
That while I pour this artless rhime,
I languish to repeat my crime!
46
XI. To MARIA.
If tranquil beams forsake thine eye,
If smiles that sweetly bless
At every dear-bought conquest fly;—
Farewell, ye fields of chess!
If smiles that sweetly bless
At every dear-bought conquest fly;—
Farewell, ye fields of chess!
For me let rival warriours rest,
No more I tempt the fight:
One look of peace by thee suppress'd,
Not vanquish'd kings requite!
No more I tempt the fight:
One look of peace by thee suppress'd,
Not vanquish'd kings requite!
47
XII. To JULIA.
Of Julia's dulcet smile I sing,
Let rapture burst from every string—
Let eyes of heavenly radiance shine
With equal light from lays divine!
Let rapture burst from every string—
Let eyes of heavenly radiance shine
With equal light from lays divine!
Her lyre with myrtle blossoms crown'd,
With laurel wreaths her tresses bound,
Lo! pure-eyed virtue lends her aid
To celebrate a spotless maid.
With laurel wreaths her tresses bound,
Lo! pure-eyed virtue lends her aid
To celebrate a spotless maid.
At Julia's name the Graces rise,
Cœlestial sweetness fills the skies,
Airs melting airs soft winds prolong,
While listening love applauds the song.
Cœlestial sweetness fills the skies,
Airs melting airs soft winds prolong,
While listening love applauds the song.
48
Ah! love applauds my verse in vain,
Relentless sorrow chills the strain:
Yet, every charm my song conceals,
My ravish'd soul in silence feels!
Relentless sorrow chills the strain:
Yet, every charm my song conceals,
My ravish'd soul in silence feels!
| Poems by William Kendall | |