Poems to Thespia To Which are Added, Sonnets, &c. [by Hugh Downman] |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. | XI.
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| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
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 | Poems to Thespia |  |
XI.
[Ah! can they be of gentle woman born]
Ah! can they be of gentle woman born,
Are they not rather cast in iron mould,
Who love, as if it were a weakness, scorn,
And place their sum of happiness in gold?
Are they not rather cast in iron mould,
Who love, as if it were a weakness, scorn,
And place their sum of happiness in gold?
Who nothing of that sweet alliance know,
That tender union of connected hearts,
Whence only transports unalloy'd can flow,
Transports which brave affliction's venom'd darts?
That tender union of connected hearts,
Whence only transports unalloy'd can flow,
Transports which brave affliction's venom'd darts?
32
O genuine offspring of the native soul,
As yet unfashion'd by the hand of vice!
Ye thoughts, which point the way to honour's goal!
Ye thoughts, whence every virtue takes its rise!
As yet unfashion'd by the hand of vice!
Ye thoughts, which point the way to honour's goal!
Ye thoughts, whence every virtue takes its rise!
Ye warm inspirers of the breast of youth!
Ye handmaids which compose the smiling train
Of innocence, and unsuspecting truth!
Say, were ye form'd so wond'rous fair in vain?
Ye handmaids which compose the smiling train
Of innocence, and unsuspecting truth!
Say, were ye form'd so wond'rous fair in vain?
Did nature plant you in the human mind,
That tyrant Art might thence her work displace?
That your free limbs might be in chains confined?
That harden'd interest might your charms deface?
That tyrant Art might thence her work displace?
That your free limbs might be in chains confined?
That harden'd interest might your charms deface?
Ah no! far otherwise her equal law,
And kind maternal tenderness decreed;
She will'd her infant scyons there to grow,
To bloom, and ripen into golden seed.
And kind maternal tenderness decreed;
She will'd her infant scyons there to grow,
To bloom, and ripen into golden seed.
33
Hence gave she all that more than eloquence
Which speaks in Virgin Beauty's bashful eye;
Hence left the soul of youth without defence,
Glowing with warm susceptibility.
Which speaks in Virgin Beauty's bashful eye;
Hence left the soul of youth without defence,
Glowing with warm susceptibility.
Hence panting wishes, undissembled fears
Her ardent votaries felt; hence fancy wild,
And love sincere and vows unfeign'd were theirs,
And Awe shrunk back, and Hope the Cherub smiled.
Her ardent votaries felt; hence fancy wild,
And love sincere and vows unfeign'd were theirs,
And Awe shrunk back, and Hope the Cherub smiled.
O Thespia! We these ardent votaries were;
Have I not fix'd my fainting sight on thee,
Till trickling down my cheek, the emphatic tear
Hath in mute language told my extasy?
Have I not fix'd my fainting sight on thee,
Till trickling down my cheek, the emphatic tear
Hath in mute language told my extasy?
While from thy conscious, but more timid eye
The downcast rays thy secret flame confess'd,
While the quick-varying blush, and struggling sigh,
Disclosed the pure emotions of thy breast?
The downcast rays thy secret flame confess'd,
While the quick-varying blush, and struggling sigh,
Disclosed the pure emotions of thy breast?
34
How roves the vagrant mind to future days!
How credulous is Love! with magic wand
What visions cannot soothing error raise!
How thick around the self-delusions stand!
How credulous is Love! with magic wand
What visions cannot soothing error raise!
How thick around the self-delusions stand!
Duped by their flattery; nature's just design
We saw with us to it's perfection brought,
Saw each acceding year more firmly twine
The mental wreathe, our younger fancies wrought.
We saw with us to it's perfection brought,
Saw each acceding year more firmly twine
The mental wreathe, our younger fancies wrought.
They painted to our view the lowly cot,
Where neatness bland, with meek contentment play'd,
Look'd up to Heaven, and bless'd their tranquil lot,
Nor envied guilt in glaring pride array'd.
Where neatness bland, with meek contentment play'd,
Look'd up to Heaven, and bless'd their tranquil lot,
Nor envied guilt in glaring pride array'd.
With treacherous smile the farm retired they shew'd,
It's verdant meads, it's fields and sylvan bowers,
The grazing lambs, the waving corn, the wood
Of tufted elm, and garden deck'd with flowers.
It's verdant meads, it's fields and sylvan bowers,
The grazing lambs, the waving corn, the wood
Of tufted elm, and garden deck'd with flowers.
35
Obscure the scenes, their pleasing pencil drew;
Obscure, but blest with unaffected joy.
We hated mad ambition's noisy crew,
Convinced that love with reason could not cloy.
Obscure, but blest with unaffected joy.
We hated mad ambition's noisy crew,
Convinced that love with reason could not cloy.
Our rural neighbours to the friendly feast
We bid, their simple hearts intent to gain:
Where pride inspires not the fastidious breast,
Envy will seek to wound it's peace in vain.
We bid, their simple hearts intent to gain:
Where pride inspires not the fastidious breast,
Envy will seek to wound it's peace in vain.
False! tho enchanting prospects! yet no fault,
No crime of our's hath rendered them untrue.
But hide the cause!—check every murmuring thought!—
To virtue this sad sacrifice is due.
No crime of our's hath rendered them untrue.
But hide the cause!—check every murmuring thought!—
To virtue this sad sacrifice is due.
Yet, let me curse stern avarice, odious fiend;
Let me lament the unhappiest of their kind,
All other passions dead, compell'd to bend
Beneath this last slow fever of the mind.
Let me lament the unhappiest of their kind,
All other passions dead, compell'd to bend
Beneath this last slow fever of the mind.
36
Rather than feel this dire distemper's sway,
Than with this thirst be scorch'd in life's decline,
May I ne'er see again the cheerful day,
Forever doom'd to labour in the mine!
Than with this thirst be scorch'd in life's decline,
May I ne'er see again the cheerful day,
Forever doom'd to labour in the mine!
May every terror fate reserves in store
For wretched man, assault this drooping head!
May want, may famine enter at my door!
May pain and restless care surround my bed!
For wretched man, assault this drooping head!
May want, may famine enter at my door!
May pain and restless care surround my bed!
Or should my Thespia, all our trials past,
Should we before the sacred altar stand,
May Heaven, in mercy, with the lightning's blast
Strike me at once, and tear the destined band!
Should we before the sacred altar stand,
May Heaven, in mercy, with the lightning's blast
Strike me at once, and tear the destined band!
| Poems to Thespia | |