Translations and Poems Written on Several Subjects ::

When first the beauteous Infant Maid,
The early Seeds of Sense display'd,
With her dear Prattle sooth'd my Cares,
And charm'd my fond transported Ears.

151

III

How did her op'ning Bloom arise,
And as it struck my ravish'd Eyes!
Oft promis'd to my Years increase
A Store of Innocence and Peace.

IV

But soon! too soon these flattering Joys,
Fate's interposing Hand destroys;
And lost in Death's all-gloomy Shade,
The dear delusive Vision fled.

V

So does the early-budding Rose,
Its blushing Fragrancy disclose,
Allure the Touch and Smell and Sight,
And yield each Sense a soft Delight.

VI

Till some rash Foe its Pride invade,
And ravish'd from its native Bed,
Its Odour and its Hue decay,
And all its Beauties fade away.

152

VII

Thus were my Dreams of Comfort crost,
And with the Fav'rite-Virgin lost;
And all my Schemes of Bliss to come,
Inclos'd within her early Tomb!

VIII

Thence Clouds of new Afflictions rise,
And brooding o'er the darken'd Skies;
With their sad melancholly Shade,
The Horizon of Life o'erspread.

IX

While o'er the young Sabina's Urn,
Thus with Paternal Grief I mourn:
Around my Soul new Sorrows break,
And leave my Woes no Room to speak.—

X

On Atticus' delightful Age,
Fate next employed his cruel Rage;
With Ease dissolv'd Life's feeble Chain,
And freed the suff'ring Saint from Pain.

153

XI

O Ever honour'd sacred Name!
If in the bright Immortal Train,
One Thought of Earth can touch thy Rest,
Look down on this afflicted Breast.

XII

Teach me like thee, thro' Life to steer,
Patient and calm my Lot to bear;
Teach me thy heav'nly Steps to trace,
And reach like thee the Realms of Peace!

University of Virginia Library

Anniversary ODE,

sacred to the Memory OF A DAUGHTER.

Ob. An. 1726.

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