The poems and songs of William Hamilton of Bangour collated with the ms. volume of his poems, and containing several pieces hitherto unpublished; with illustrative notes, and an account of the life of the author. By James Paterson |
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REPLY BY MR. HAMILTON. |
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 | The poems and songs of William Hamilton of Bangour |  |
REPLY BY MR. HAMILTON.
------ Sed quæ legat ipsa Lycoris.
Virg.
Virg.
O gentle maid! whoe'er thou art,
That seek'st to bless a friendly heart;
Whose muse and mind seem fram'd to prove
That seek'st to bless a friendly heart;
Whose muse and mind seem fram'd to prove
The tenderness of mutual love:
The heart that flutters in his breast,
That longs and pants to be at rest,
Roam'd all around thy sex, to find
A gentle mate, and hop'd her kind.
The heart that flutters in his breast,
That longs and pants to be at rest,
Roam'd all around thy sex, to find
A gentle mate, and hop'd her kind.
93
I saw a face—and found it fair;
I search'd a mind—saw goodness there:
Goodness and beauty both combin'd;
But heav'n forbade her to be kind.
I search'd a mind—saw goodness there:
Goodness and beauty both combin'd;
But heav'n forbade her to be kind.
To thee for refuge dare I fly,
The victim of another eye?
Poor gift! a lost, rejected heart,
Deep wounded by a foreign dart.
The victim of another eye?
Poor gift! a lost, rejected heart,
Deep wounded by a foreign dart.
From this inevitable chain,
Alas! I hope to 'scape in vain.
Is there a pow'r can set me free,
A pow'r on earth—or is it thee?
Alas! I hope to 'scape in vain.
Is there a pow'r can set me free,
A pow'r on earth—or is it thee?
Yet were thy cheek as Venus fair;
Bloom'd all the Paphian goddess there,
Such as she bless'd Adonis' arms;
Thou couldst but equal Laura's charms.
Bloom'd all the Paphian goddess there,
Such as she bless'd Adonis' arms;
Thou couldst but equal Laura's charms.
Or were thy gentlest mind replete
With all that's mild, that's soft, that's sweet;
Was all that's sweet, soft, mild, combin'd,
Thou couldst but equal Laura's mind.
With all that's mild, that's soft, that's sweet;
Was all that's sweet, soft, mild, combin'd,
Thou couldst but equal Laura's mind.
Since beauty, goodness, is not found
Of equal force to soothe his wound,
Ah! what can ease my anguish'd mind?
Perhaps the charm of being kind.
Of equal force to soothe his wound,
Ah! what can ease my anguish'd mind?
Perhaps the charm of being kind.
Canst thou transported view the lays
That warble forth another's praise,
Indulgent to the vow unknown,
Well pleas'd with homage not thy own?
That warble forth another's praise,
Indulgent to the vow unknown,
Well pleas'd with homage not thy own?
Canst thou the sighs with pity hear
That swell to touch another's ear?
Canst thou with soft compassion see
The tears that fall, and not for thee?
That swell to touch another's ear?
Canst thou with soft compassion see
The tears that fall, and not for thee?
Canst thou thy blooming hopes resign,
The vow sincere, so dearly thine;
All these resign, and prove to me
What Laura would not deign to be?
The vow sincere, so dearly thine;
All these resign, and prove to me
What Laura would not deign to be?
When at thy feet I trembling fall,
My life, my soul, my Laura call;
Wilt thou my anxious cares beguile,
And o'er thy face spread Laura's smile.
My life, my soul, my Laura call;
Wilt thou my anxious cares beguile,
And o'er thy face spread Laura's smile.
Perhaps Time's gently stealing pace
May Laura's fatal form efface,
Thou to my heart alone be dear,
Alone thy image triumph here.
May Laura's fatal form efface,
Thou to my heart alone be dear,
Alone thy image triumph here.
Come then, best angel! to my aid;
Come, sure thou'rt such, the gentlest maid:
If thou canst work this cure divine,
My heart henceforth is wholly thine.
Come, sure thou'rt such, the gentlest maid:
If thou canst work this cure divine,
My heart henceforth is wholly thine.
Edinburgh.
| The poems and songs of William Hamilton of Bangour | |