Metrical Effusions or Verses on Various Occasions [by Bernard Barton] |
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STANZAS
IN ANSWER TO THE PRECEDING. |
 | Metrical Effusions |  |
187
STANZAS IN ANSWER TO THE PRECEDING.
“The gust o' joy, the balm of woe,
The saul o' life, the heav'n below,
Is rapture-giving Woman.”
—Burns.
The saul o' life, the heav'n below,
Is rapture-giving Woman.”
—Burns.
Yes Crito, I have seen the deep
Its varied charms disclose;
Have seen the dews of morning steep
The fragrance of the rose:
But all their loveliness combin'd
Cannot compare with Woman-kind.
Its varied charms disclose;
Have seen the dews of morning steep
The fragrance of the rose:
But all their loveliness combin'd
Cannot compare with Woman-kind.
188
O sex belov'd! how oft this heart
Hath own'd thy magic sway;
Thy gentler friendship void of art,
Hath beam'd its lambent ray:
My hand shall touch the trembling string,
And every tongue thy praise shall sing.
Hath own'd thy magic sway;
Thy gentler friendship void of art,
Hath beam'd its lambent ray:
My hand shall touch the trembling string,
And every tongue thy praise shall sing.
When gloomy grief, and pining care
The anguish'd bosom rend,
'Tis thine the bitter cup to share,
A firm and faithful friend:
Thy smile can banish every tear
And check each vain foreboding fear.
The anguish'd bosom rend,
'Tis thine the bitter cup to share,
A firm and faithful friend:
Thy smile can banish every tear
And check each vain foreboding fear.
The task is thine in early youth,
With mild persuasive voice,
To paint the radiant charms of truth,
And fix the infant choice.
Long will I raise the filial prayer,
For her who made my youth her care.
With mild persuasive voice,
To paint the radiant charms of truth,
And fix the infant choice.
Long will I raise the filial prayer,
For her who made my youth her care.
189
When time, with rapid ceaseless course,
Conducts to manhood's prime;
In thee we find a copious source
Of happiness sublime.
Oft shall this bosom heave a sigh
For her who doubled every joy.
Conducts to manhood's prime;
In thee we find a copious source
Of happiness sublime.
Oft shall this bosom heave a sigh
For her who doubled every joy.
When fell disease exerts its power,
And holds its torpid reign;
'Tis thine to mitigate the hour,
And soften every pain:
To smooth the restless bed of death,
And catch the last expiring breath.
And holds its torpid reign;
'Tis thine to mitigate the hour,
And soften every pain:
To smooth the restless bed of death,
And catch the last expiring breath.
From life's commencement to its close
To thee the task is given,
To meliorate our varied woes,
And form on earth a heaven.
Without thee 'tis a vale of tears,
But with thee Paradise appears.
To thee the task is given,
To meliorate our varied woes,
And form on earth a heaven.
Without thee 'tis a vale of tears,
But with thee Paradise appears.
190
For thee, base wretch! whose impious tongue
Hath sung of female guile,
Still rest assur'd on such a song
No muse will waste a smile.
They view thy labours with disdain,
Nor bless the rash, unhallow'd strain.
Hath sung of female guile,
Still rest assur'd on such a song
No muse will waste a smile.
They view thy labours with disdain,
Nor bless the rash, unhallow'd strain.
When Crito and his spiteful page
Shall be by all forgot,
Some bard shall sing in every age
Fair Woman's happier lot;
Her worth, her excellence proclaim,
And man shall venerate her name.
Shall be by all forgot,
Some bard shall sing in every age
Fair Woman's happier lot;
Her worth, her excellence proclaim,
And man shall venerate her name.
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