Poems Chiefly Written in Retirement, By John Thelwall; With Memoirs of the Life of the Author. Second Edition |
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STANZAS
To Rosa Bella Bianca, on her Birth-day.
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119
STANZAS To Rosa Bella Bianca, on her Birth-day.
Norwich, August 8, 1796.
Blossom of vernal sweetness, lovely Rose!
Once more I tune the long-neglected lay,
To hail the sun, whose favouring beams disclose
Improving beauties with this genial day.
Once more I tune the long-neglected lay,
To hail the sun, whose favouring beams disclose
Improving beauties with this genial day.
Propitious Day! still as the circling year
Renews its course, may'st thou, at each return,
Vail'd in fresh show'rs of op'ning bliss appear,
While Health's gay fires with purer ardour burn!
Renews its course, may'st thou, at each return,
Vail'd in fresh show'rs of op'ning bliss appear,
While Health's gay fires with purer ardour burn!
And may the Loves and Graces still, as now,
Play round the form and flush the artless cheek;
While taste and virtue crown the polish'd brow,
And thro' her eyes the native feelings speak!
Play round the form and flush the artless cheek;
While taste and virtue crown the polish'd brow,
And thro' her eyes the native feelings speak!
The while some youth, by Nature's partial love
Form'd in the mould of Genius, Worth, and Sense,
In early prime, her virgin heart shall move,
And Hymen's torch its brightest ray dispense.
Form'd in the mould of Genius, Worth, and Sense,
In early prime, her virgin heart shall move,
And Hymen's torch its brightest ray dispense.
So shall the charms on her fair form impress'd
Enhance her bliss, and every tender sigh
That heaves the softness of Bianca's breast,
Be but the herald of approaching joy!
Enhance her bliss, and every tender sigh
That heaves the softness of Bianca's breast,
Be but the herald of approaching joy!
120
Thus does, sweet Maid! the strain of Friendship flow,
Gilding thy fate in colours of the morn:
A spring-tide life, unchil'd by wintry woe—
Day without cloud—a rose without a thorn!
Gilding thy fate in colours of the morn:
A spring-tide life, unchil'd by wintry woe—
Day without cloud—a rose without a thorn!
But 'twill not be: some dregs of envious care
In Life's incongruous cup the Fates will fling.
Beauty and Worth the bitter draught must share,
And Wisdom's self shall drink at Sorrow's spring.
In Life's incongruous cup the Fates will fling.
Beauty and Worth the bitter draught must share,
And Wisdom's self shall drink at Sorrow's spring.
Be then each cloud that glooms life's fickle day,
Like transient show'rs that cool the fervid skies;
And from each vernal blossom's doom'd decay,
May Virtue's store, and Wisdom's fruits arise.
Like transient show'rs that cool the fervid skies;
And from each vernal blossom's doom'd decay,
May Virtue's store, and Wisdom's fruits arise.
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