Poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

Poems

By George Dyer

Dyer, George (1755-1841)

[epigraph]

POEMS.

II.

ODE II. TO MELANCHOLY.

III.

ODE III. WRITTEN IN THE CLOISTERS OF CHRIST-HOSPITAL, IN LONDON.

ODE V. ON THE EVENING.

THE MADMAN.

VI.

ODE VI. WRITTEN IN BEDLAM:

VII.

ODE VII. TO ANTHONY DEANE, OF BATH, SOMERSETSHIRE;

VII.

ODE VII. GAIA,

VIII.

ODE VIII. A TRIUMPHANT ODE OF THE ISRAELITES,

IX.

ODE IX. BALAAM'S PROPHECY.

XI.

ODE XI. ON GENIUS.

XII.

ODE XII. TO THE NIGHTINGALE.

XIV.

ODE XIV. RAYMOND AND ANGELINA.

XV.

ODE XV. WRITTEN ON A BLANK LEAF OF MILTON'S PARADISE LOST,

XVI.

ODE XVI. ADDRESSED TO DR. ROBERT ANDERSON, OF HERIOT'S-GREEN, EDINBURGH,

XVII.

ODE XVII. ASTERIA ROCKING THE CRADLE,

XVIII.

ODE XVIII. WRITTEN ON THE DEATH OF JOHN HOWARD ,

XIX.

ODE XIX. TO A YOUNG PAINTER AND POETESS.

ON A LADY,

ODE TO A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN.

XX.

ODE XX. ON AN APPROACHING SPRING

XXIV.

ODE XXIV. WINTER DEFEATED.

XXV.

ODE XXV. A GLEE.

XXVI.

ODE XXVI. THE RESLOVE.

ON TAKING LEAVE OF ARTHUR AIKIN,

XXVII.

ODE XXVII.

XXVIII.

ODE XXVIII. THE MUSICIANS;

ADDRESSED TO THE SOCIETY FOR ESTABLISHING A LITERARY FUND FOR AUTHORS IN DISTRESS,

XXIX.

ODE XXIX. SUPPOSED TO BE WRITTEN BY COLONEL LOVELACE,

XXXIII.

ODE XXXIII. TO DR. SAMUEL PARR , OF HADDON NEAR WARWICK.

XXXVII.

ODE XXXVII. TO PITY.

XXXVIII.

ODE XXXVIII. THE FAIR SCEPTIC;

XXXIX.

ODE XXXIX. AFTER VISITING DRYBURGH ABBEY, IN BERWICKSHIRE,

XL.

ODE XL. HYMN TO CHARITY .

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ODE XVII. ASTERIA ROCKING THE CRADLE,

OR, THE FAIR BELIEVER.

[_]

Printed in the Author's Poems, published in 1792.

I

'Tis fair Asteria's sweet employ,
To rock yon little restless boy:
Tho' small that cradle, it contains
Treasure, beyond a king's domains.

II

Not all Arabia's spicy store,
Not all Golconda's glittering ore,
Elysian fields, nor Eden's grove,
Could buy that little restless love.

III

Dear babe! the fair Asteria cries;
Dear babe! the listening muse replies;
While here a faithful guard we keep,
Dear babe, enjoy the honied sleep.

IV

Now hush, the sobs! now hush, the cries!
Lo gentle slumbers close his eyes!
And here a faithful guard we keep,
Sweet babe! enjoy the honied sleep.

V

Ere yon fair orb, that rules the sky,
Beam'd on that little stranger's eye;
Ere yet with feeble voice it wept,
Close in the silent womb it slept.

VI

And, who can tell the bitter smart,
That pierc'd Asteria's trembling heart?
Yet sure there's magic in that boy,
That wakes the soft parental joy.

VII

Still on Asteria's languid face
The primrose paleness keeps its place:
Yet o'er that face, what brilliant hues
Can this beloved babe diffuse!

VIII

How sweet beside the cradle's brink,
In musing state to gaze and think!
No daisied bank, no green hill's side,
So shines in nature's decent pride.

IX

Now see the babe unclose his eyes!
And see the mother's transports rise!
How every feature charms her sight!
How every motion wakes delight!

X

What rising beauties there she views!
The rosy lip, the polish'd nose,
The slender eyebrow budding thin,
The velvet cheek, the dimpling chin.

XI

Anon she views the sparkling eye,
The lifted hand, the tuneful cry;
And, hastening on thro' years to come,
She traces out his future doom.

XII

“Haply he'll plead religion's cause;
“Or weep o'er freedom's bleeding laws;
“Or feel the poet's sacred rage;
“Or trace the dark historic page.”

XIII

Nor is so sweet the sweetest gale,
That breathes across the silent vale,
From myrtle grove, or garden's bloom,
As is the honied breath's perfume.

XIV

At length she breathe's the fervent prayer:
Great God, oh! make my child thy care!
And may his future actions be
Sacred to virtue, dear to thee!

XV

Whatever fortune then betide,
Thou shalt his portion still abide:
And when the course of life is run,
Give him a never-withering crown.