 | The poetical works of Samuel Woodworth |  |
66
ELEGIAC LINES.
WRITTEN AT THE REQUEST OF A YOUNG LADY, ON THE DEATH OF HER FAVORITE KITTEN.
[A JUVENILE PRODUCTION.]
Shall sculptured blocks and columns rise,
In memory of the worthless great,
And nought but tears, regrets, and sighs,
Declare the humbler victim's fate?
In memory of the worthless great,
And nought but tears, regrets, and sighs,
Declare the humbler victim's fate?
Forbid it, Justice! while my muse
Will not deny her friendly aid;
To Sylvia's though abstruse,
Shall due respect and praise be paid.
Will not deny her friendly aid;
To Sylvia's though abstruse,
Shall due respect and praise be paid.
How pure her life! without a blot
To stain her bright, untarnished fame!
Though low, obscure, and mean her lot,
Yet long shall live her humble name.
To stain her bright, untarnished fame!
Though low, obscure, and mean her lot,
Yet long shall live her humble name.
How oft her sportive tricks and plays
Have pleased, amused, and banished care!
How oft her little winning ways
Have gained caresses from the fair!
Have pleased, amused, and banished care!
How oft her little winning ways
Have gained caresses from the fair!
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How rich and envied the reward,
For all her little arts to please!
Here lovely mistress' kind regard,
Tenfold repaid such toils as these.
For all her little arts to please!
Here lovely mistress' kind regard,
Tenfold repaid such toils as these.
Who would not envy her, so blest—
Accept her fate her bliss to gain?
Kissed by those lips—pressed to that breast,
Which thousands sigh to touch in vain.
Accept her fate her bliss to gain?
Kissed by those lips—pressed to that breast,
Which thousands sigh to touch in vain.
But, ah! her sports and plays are done!
Those harmless pastimes all are fled!
The tricks which those caresses won,
Amuse no more!—poor Sylvia's dead!
Those harmless pastimes all are fled!
The tricks which those caresses won,
Amuse no more!—poor Sylvia's dead!
| The poetical works of Samuel Woodworth | |