The Shamrock or, Hibernian Cresses. A Collection of Poems, Songs, Epigrams, &c. Latin as well as English, The Original Production of Ireland. To which are subjoined thoughts on the prevailing system of school education, respecting young ladies as well as gentlemen: with practical proposals for a reformation [by Samuel Whyte] |
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THE NYMPH OF THE WELL, TO THE LADIES AT MALLOW. |
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 | The Shamrock |  |
THE NYMPH OF THE WELL, TO THE LADIES AT MALLOW.
Inscribed to Miss SENTLEGER.
The blue-ey'd Guardian of the Well,
That here, unseen, delights to dwell,
To tend these spreading Elms, to rove,
At Morn, or Eve, the rising Grove,
To bless the Walk from Feet profane,
And clear the hallow'd Spring from Stain,
Warm with the tenderest Wishes, sends
This Greeting to her Summer Friends.
That here, unseen, delights to dwell,
To tend these spreading Elms, to rove,
At Morn, or Eve, the rising Grove,
To bless the Walk from Feet profane,
And clear the hallow'd Spring from Stain,
Warm with the tenderest Wishes, sends
This Greeting to her Summer Friends.
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And, first, to you, my softer Care,
Who to Health's Altar here repair,
O pardon, that, in moral Lay,
This Admonition I convey:
Would ye, the rosy Nymph should bless,
And crown your Wishes with Success?
Be mindful that such Hearts ye bring,
As best may profit by the Spring.
Who to Health's Altar here repair,
O pardon, that, in moral Lay,
This Admonition I convey:
Would ye, the rosy Nymph should bless,
And crown your Wishes with Success?
Be mindful that such Hearts ye bring,
As best may profit by the Spring.
If little Pride your Bosoms swell;
In that soft Seat, if Envy dwell;
Conceal'd if there, and shunning Day,
Foul Scandal mark her destin'd Prey;
If there, with dark, malignant Aim,
Th'invenom'd Falshood Slander frame,
Whose Viper-Breath still blasts, unseen,
Those Virtues which provoke her Spleen;
As the Worm nips, with Tooth severe,
The gayest Infants of the Year;
If there, rank Tares have fix'd their Root,
And choak'd kind Nature's goodly Fruit,
And each sweet Flower which Heaven design'd
To blossom in the female Mind;
Be gone—nor dare this Place profane—
Your Vows to Health are breath'd in vain;
With pitying, yet indignant, Eyes,
Away the rose-lipp'd Cherub flies.
In that soft Seat, if Envy dwell;
Conceal'd if there, and shunning Day,
Foul Scandal mark her destin'd Prey;
If there, with dark, malignant Aim,
Th'invenom'd Falshood Slander frame,
Whose Viper-Breath still blasts, unseen,
Those Virtues which provoke her Spleen;
As the Worm nips, with Tooth severe,
The gayest Infants of the Year;
If there, rank Tares have fix'd their Root,
And choak'd kind Nature's goodly Fruit,
And each sweet Flower which Heaven design'd
To blossom in the female Mind;
Be gone—nor dare this Place profane—
Your Vows to Health are breath'd in vain;
With pitying, yet indignant, Eyes,
Away the rose-lipp'd Cherub flies.
This Secret once disclos'd to View,
To Profit thence belongs to you—
Is Health the Object of your Prayer?
Is Loveliness your Wish, or Care?
O, from your Minds, without Delay,
Root every noxious Weed away;
And Virtue's honour'd Seeds replace
In that fair Soil they love to grace:
Where Truth her radiant Vestment spreads;
Th'impassion'd Tear where Pity sheds:
Where Candour's cloudless, open Mien
Declares the Peace that dwells within;
Where Charity, the general Friend,
Her Heaven-illumin'd Smile doth lend;
Where those sweet Plants delight to grow,
There shall Health's freshest Roses blow;
This hallow'd Spring shall there supply
The living Lustre of the Eye;
Love, Hope, and Joy, shall all repair;
And Grace, and Beauty flourish there.
To Profit thence belongs to you—
Is Health the Object of your Prayer?
Is Loveliness your Wish, or Care?
O, from your Minds, without Delay,
Root every noxious Weed away;
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In that fair Soil they love to grace:
Where Truth her radiant Vestment spreads;
Th'impassion'd Tear where Pity sheds:
Where Candour's cloudless, open Mien
Declares the Peace that dwells within;
Where Charity, the general Friend,
Her Heaven-illumin'd Smile doth lend;
Where those sweet Plants delight to grow,
There shall Health's freshest Roses blow;
This hallow'd Spring shall there supply
The living Lustre of the Eye;
Love, Hope, and Joy, shall all repair;
And Grace, and Beauty flourish there.
Quick, then, my gentle Friends, be wise;
Nor rudely slight the offer'd Prize;
Pursue the Path my Care hath shewn;
And Health, and Pleasure, are your own:
Would ye be fair?—The Work is done—
Virtue, and Loveliness, are one:—
Thus shall ye prove, in Form, in Mind,
What, first, creating Heaven design'd,
Of all its various Works, confess'd,
The last, the fairest, and the best.
Nor rudely slight the offer'd Prize;
Pursue the Path my Care hath shewn;
And Health, and Pleasure, are your own:
Would ye be fair?—The Work is done—
Virtue, and Loveliness, are one:—
Thus shall ye prove, in Form, in Mind,
What, first, creating Heaven design'd,
Of all its various Works, confess'd,
The last, the fairest, and the best.
| The Shamrock | |