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 volume of his poems, and containing several pieces hitherto unpublished; with illustrative notes, and an account of the life of the author.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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TO A YOUNG LADY ON HER SINGING. |
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 | The poems and songs of William Hamilton of Bangour |  |
101
TO A YOUNG LADY ON HER SINGING.
Such, skill'd the tender verse to frame,
And softly strike the golden lyre;
A stranger to the softening flame,
And new to ev'ry mild desire.
And softly strike the golden lyre;
A stranger to the softening flame,
And new to ev'ry mild desire.
Sweets that crown the budding year,
Pour'd from the zephyr's tepid wing,
Saw Sappho in the grove appear,
The rival of the vocal spring.
Pour'd from the zephyr's tepid wing,
Saw Sappho in the grove appear,
The rival of the vocal spring.
To try the heart-subduing strains,
Anon the vernal scenes impel
O'er lofty rocks and rilly plains
Soft warbled from th' Eolian shell.
Anon the vernal scenes impel
O'er lofty rocks and rilly plains
Soft warbled from th' Eolian shell.
Or such as in the bright abodes,
The youngest muse with glories crown'd,
To whom the sire of men and gods
Gave all the enchanting pow'r of sound.
The youngest muse with glories crown'd,
To whom the sire of men and gods
Gave all the enchanting pow'r of sound.
As at the banquet of the sky,
Freed from the giant's impious arms,
She drew each heavenly ear and eye,
With beauty mingling music's charms.
Freed from the giant's impious arms,
She drew each heavenly ear and eye,
With beauty mingling music's charms.
Had such a voice sure to prevail,
Soft, warbled from the syren strand,
What wonder, if each amorous sail
Spontaneous sought the tuneful land.
Soft, warbled from the syren strand,
What wonder, if each amorous sail
Spontaneous sought the tuneful land.
Even thou who cautious wing'st thy way,
Had given thy tedious wand'rings o'er;
By Julia's all-persuading lay
Fix'd ever to the pleasing shore.
Had given thy tedious wand'rings o'er;
By Julia's all-persuading lay
Fix'd ever to the pleasing shore.
A face so sweet had sure prevail'd
With wisdom's self to hear the voice,
Whilst both the yielding heart assail'd,
Here wisdom might have fix'd his choice.
With wisdom's self to hear the voice,
Whilst both the yielding heart assail'd,
Here wisdom might have fix'd his choice.
| The poems and songs of William Hamilton of Bangour | |