The Poetical Works of Anna Seward With Extracts from her Literary Correspondence. Edited by Walter Scott ... In Three Volumes |
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TO
MISS HONORA SMITH of LICHFIELD.
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 | The Poetical Works of Anna Seward |  |
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TO MISS HONORA SMITH of LICHFIELD.
WRITTEN JUNE 1800.
Screen'd, dear Honora, by that icy veil
Of virgin modesty, incessant worn,
What playful wit, what plastic genius dwell
Coy glancing sun-beams of thy April morn!
Of virgin modesty, incessant worn,
What playful wit, what plastic genius dwell
Coy glancing sun-beams of thy April morn!
Whate'er thy untaught harmonies impart
From volant fingers to the answering wires;
Or when thy slow strains melt upon the heart,
Sweeping each varying chord, as taste inspires,
From volant fingers to the answering wires;
Or when thy slow strains melt upon the heart,
Sweeping each varying chord, as taste inspires,
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At the creative wonders of thy hand
Rapt sons of Science in amazement start,
Listening the strains, that brilliant, soft, or grand,
Rise at thy touch, and smile on baffled art.
Rapt sons of Science in amazement start,
Listening the strains, that brilliant, soft, or grand,
Rise at thy touch, and smile on baffled art.
And when thy sportive fancies steal abroad,
So wild, so new, grotesque, and strange they show,
Not less we wonder at their cold abode,
Such roses bursting from their sheet of snow!
So wild, so new, grotesque, and strange they show,
Not less we wonder at their cold abode,
Such roses bursting from their sheet of snow!
When filial love, by many a melting tear,
Dropt on thy mother's breast, its force proclaims,
Surprised we see an ardent heart appear,
A little Hecla pouring forth its flames.
Dropt on thy mother's breast, its force proclaims,
Surprised we see an ardent heart appear,
A little Hecla pouring forth its flames.
Expanding, strength'ning, may thy mind retain
Its powers, its worth, its latent fires thro' life!
Priceless the blessing then which they shall gain;
Who hail thee sister, daughter, friend, or wife.
Its powers, its worth, its latent fires thro' life!
Priceless the blessing then which they shall gain;
Who hail thee sister, daughter, friend, or wife.
This young creature plays every air she catches with full and elegant bass accompaniment, intuitively and spontaneously discovered;—also beautiful compositions intirely her own, and this without knowing the names of the notes or the keys.— Sept. 1803. She has within this month only, begun to learn music scientifically.
| The Poetical Works of Anna Seward | |