 | The miscellaneous works (1813) |  |
ELEGIAC EPISTLE.
[_]
THE Author supposes the tender Platonic Petrarch to have addressed the following Stanzas to Laura, from his favorite fountain of Vaucluse.
All here is calm; the limpid Fountain here
Bears not a ripple on its polished plain;
Propitious Solitudes! to Petrarch dear,
Grant him a sympathetic calm to gain.
Bears not a ripple on its polished plain;
Propitious Solitudes! to Petrarch dear,
Grant him a sympathetic calm to gain.
Yet, what avails it, Laura, to possess
A soul for sympathetic feelings formed,
Unless in pain the soul seek happiness,
Unless with misery the heart be charmed.
A soul for sympathetic feelings formed,
Unless in pain the soul seek happiness,
Unless with misery the heart be charmed.
74
A kindred soul shall grateful charms disclose,
And the fond heart with lively transports fill;
Some demon bar, some league shall interpose,
And damp the rising hope with Lapland chill.
And the fond heart with lively transports fill;
Some demon bar, some league shall interpose,
And damp the rising hope with Lapland chill.
Perchance some nymph whom Eastern beauty crowns,
Where charms of person and of soul combine,
On whom fond Nature smiles, nor Fortune frowns,
Already stands a pledge for Hymen's shrine.
Where charms of person and of soul combine,
On whom fond Nature smiles, nor Fortune frowns,
Already stands a pledge for Hymen's shrine.
Though Nature had forbid her mind to hate,
Haply she felt not yet the kindred power,
But urged, she innocently yields to fate,
And in a luckless moment names the hour.
Haply she felt not yet the kindred power,
But urged, she innocently yields to fate,
And in a luckless moment names the hour.
If e'er the irrevocable chain be locked,
A soul congenial urge a stronger claim,
Oh! if on sympathy the heart be rocked,
What mind can wonder, or what mind can blame?
A soul congenial urge a stronger claim,
Oh! if on sympathy the heart be rocked,
What mind can wonder, or what mind can blame?
75
Affinity's great chain in order lies,
And from one source, see brothers brothers greet:
So from one mould related souls arise,
And kindred claim where'er they chance to meet.
And from one source, see brothers brothers greet:
So from one mould related souls arise,
And kindred claim where'er they chance to meet.
And, Laura, much concerns it human weal
That souls related should alone unite:
Then would few nymphs to pensive closets steal,
Few youths o'er-clouded live an endless night.
That souls related should alone unite:
Then would few nymphs to pensive closets steal,
Few youths o'er-clouded live an endless night.
Ah! fate severer than the plighted hand,
That from the chain could draw e'er yet 'twas lost!
Perhaps, for who can destiny withstand!
Some hapless youth forbidden fires exhaust.
That from the chain could draw e'er yet 'twas lost!
Perhaps, for who can destiny withstand!
Some hapless youth forbidden fires exhaust.
A youth, say not unknown at Honour's shrine,
And not unconscious of fair Virtue's due;
Then will not Laura at his fate repine,
And curse that sympathy which he must rue?
And not unconscious of fair Virtue's due;
Then will not Laura at his fate repine,
And curse that sympathy which he must rue?
76
If such a youth there be, a generous heart,
Like that which Laura's ample breast contains,
Would chuse the kinder, nobler, friendly part,
And calm to Friendship Love's unruly pains:
Like that which Laura's ample breast contains,
Would chuse the kinder, nobler, friendly part,
And calm to Friendship Love's unruly pains:
If such a youth there be, dejected, torn,
Whose slender reason Passion strong confounds,
Pity can best uplift the heart forlorn,
And balmy Friendship soothe Love's keener wounds.
Whose slender reason Passion strong confounds,
Pity can best uplift the heart forlorn,
And balmy Friendship soothe Love's keener wounds.
When transports thrill his breast let frowns be far,
But urge from Honour nobler recompense;
His Reason teach the Passion to out-war,
And raise him higher than the joys of sense.
But urge from Honour nobler recompense;
His Reason teach the Passion to out-war,
And raise him higher than the joys of sense.
And if warm numbers from his pencil glide,
If rapturous Love hath taught the line to glow,
Chasten the line, and as the Muse preside;
His numbers teach in cooler verse to flow.
If rapturous Love hath taught the line to glow,
Chasten the line, and as the Muse preside;
His numbers teach in cooler verse to flow.
77
“Ah! to my notes thine ear still partial lend”—
(Thus might be laid the tempest of his song)
“Still joy to own that Petrarch is thy friend,
“So pass thy days all undisturbed along;
(Thus might be laid the tempest of his song)
“Still joy to own that Petrarch is thy friend,
“So pass thy days all undisturbed along;
“Calm as the Seas when peaceful halcyons brood,
“And launch their little fortress on the wave;
“When softest Zephyrs breathe not on the flood,
“And glowing nymphs may not approach to lave:
“And launch their little fortress on the wave;
“When softest Zephyrs breathe not on the flood,
“And glowing nymphs may not approach to lave:
“Calm as the mind which innocence inspires,
“Calm as the soul where no wild Passion reigns,
“But Virtue regulates, and Wisdom fires,
“And the cool blood flows tranquil thro' the veins.”
“Calm as the soul where no wild Passion reigns,
“But Virtue regulates, and Wisdom fires,
“And the cool blood flows tranquil thro' the veins.”
| The miscellaneous works (1813) | |