 | [Poems by Payne in] John Howard Payne ... his life and writings |  |
TO A LADY,
WHOSE INFANT DAUGHTER DELPHINE WAS REMARKABLE FOR THE BEAUTY, FIRE, AND INTELLIGENCE OF HER EYES.
The Rose, which boasts so rich a dye,
And wantonly with Zephyr plays,
Woos the delighted traveller's eye,
Yet blushes at the traveller's gaze.
And wantonly with Zephyr plays,
Woos the delighted traveller's eye,
Yet blushes at the traveller's gaze.
That Rose, in but a little while,
Shall bloom and blush no longer there,
Shall pass away, like beauty's smile,—
Be pale and cheerless, like Despair.
Shall bloom and blush no longer there,
Shall pass away, like beauty's smile,—
Be pale and cheerless, like Despair.
But when another Spring shall rise,
Another Rose shall there be found;
Another Rose of richer dyes
Shall shed a sweeter fragrance round.
Another Rose shall there be found;
Another Rose of richer dyes
Shall shed a sweeter fragrance round.
Thou art that earlier Rose. O! long
Be friendship with thy virtues blest!
The theme of many a Poet's song;
The idol of affection's breast!
Be friendship with thy virtues blest!
The theme of many a Poet's song;
The idol of affection's breast!
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And, if thy little one confirm
The promise of her sparkling eyes,
In Delphine we behold the germ
Of the next Rose, of richer dyes.
The promise of her sparkling eyes,
In Delphine we behold the germ
Of the next Rose, of richer dyes.
O! may this child surpass in worth
The bright example thou hast given,
Charm the enraptured sons of Earth,
Then flourish in the fields of Heaven!
The bright example thou hast given,
Charm the enraptured sons of Earth,
Then flourish in the fields of Heaven!
| [Poems by Payne in] John Howard Payne ... his life and writings | |