University of Virginia Library

SONNETS.

I. SONNET. To a poetical friend.

Waste not in fruitless toil youth's fleeting prime,
Nor genial love's delight too long refuse:
Scorn wisdom's lore, and scorn the tempting muse!
On lowly pinions skim the realm of time,
Careless of all who gain a loftier clime,
Who bathe their tresses in Castalian dews;
Yet sorrows cannot shun, of varied hues,
Sorrows, that ever haunt the sons of rhime.
What dream of airy joy deludes thy mind?
Ill can the muse thro' life's tempestuous glade
Thy wanderings chear—she weeps herself to find
How oft the fairest hopes of merit fade,
How oft the world, to worth, to genius blind,
Deems wisdom air, and virtue's self a shade!

II. SONNET. In the manner of the earlier poets.

Thy yellow tresses floating in the wind
Loose o'er thy breast a sportive lustre throw,
Like scatter'd sun-beams dancing o'er the snow:
Oh! could their warm effulgence melt thy mind,
Unfeeling nymph, or teach thee to be kind,
As frost dissolves before the sunny glow;
Propitious gales of love should ever blow,
Scatter thy locks, their beamy gold unbind,
And thro' thy bosom kindle soft desire.
Then should I pierce that adamantine heart,
That polar ice with genial heat inspire.
Ah me! no ray thro' polar ice can dart—
Unchanging rock! To thee fierce passion's fire,
To thee love's burning sighs no warmth impart!

III. SONNET. To a dissolute character.

Who that can breathe the fragrant air of day
Delighted roves beneath nocturnal skies,
When chilling dews, and noisome vapours rise:
Who but a wretch like thee to vice a prey?
Ah, thou canst spurn immortal beauty's sway!
Endearing looks, pure blushes, tender sighs,
Not all the melting eloquence of eyes
From senseless revellers thy steps delay,
Who hail thee Lord, and bow to thy behest.
Wilt thou for this love's sacred rites forego,
Licentious monarch of the ribbald jest?
Vain as thy rival, man's insensate foe,
Who proudly scorn'd obedience with the blest,
To reign in realms of death and endless woe.

IV. SONNET.

[“On hope's alluring scenes tho' fortune frown]

“On hope's alluring scenes tho' fortune frown,
“If love's gay radiance yield a transient light,
“Fearless of want, fearless of envy's might,
“I'll win the fairest guerdon of renown,
“Or pluck bright honour's wreath my verse to crown:
“Whate'er betide, whate'er my toil requite,
“Lead, glory lead! I'll soar a lofty flight
“Till loud acclaims my ravish'd senses drown,
“Till fame in Laura's heavenly smile appears.”
Thus vaunted erst the victim of desire—
But glory's meed no more his bosom chears,
With dying love the poet's lays expire:
The muse dissolv'd her lyric strain in tears,
When sorrow quench'd ambition's eager fire.

V. SONNET.

[The hero, dauntless, on war's crimson plain]

The hero, dauntless, on war's crimson plain
Hears shouts of joy proclaim the foe's success:
Soon fiercely-rushing myriads round him press—
No coward fears his rapid steps restrain;
With tenfold fury fir'd, he breathes disdain,
Riots in blood, and struggling with distress,
As dangers thicken, heeds the peril less;
Till faint, he falls by matchless numbers slain:
Thus He who long unpitied pour'd his sighs,
Or wept in fruitless grief the hours away;
Tho' scarce one cloud of early passion flies,
Tho' deepen'd shades obscure the passing day;
Yet feels mid frequent storms new courage rise:
His spirit strengthens, while his hopes decay.

VI. SONNET. On LAURA's illness.

Spirits of death, your fatal rage forbear!
Shall beauty's orient beam with ruthless pain
For ever veil'd, in dim eclipse remain,
In dim eclipse of health-consuming care?
Disperse, ye dreary phantoms! hear my prayer!
Propitious hear a weeping wretch complain,
And, moved to pity by his pensive strain,
Life's tender flower from withering tempests spare!
They hear, my love—they heed the fond request.
Thy smiles revive to chase the gloom of night!
Smiles that alone can lull my fears to rest,
Smiles that unfading shine, divinely bright,
Whether in sickly pale thy cheek be drest,
Or health's warm roses blush delicious light!

VII. SONNET.

[Ambitious worldlings! count not him supine]

Ambitious worldlings! count not him supine,
Who fame's seductive voice unmoved can hear:
Worthless to him her proffer'd gifts appear.
He shuns the field where glittering trophies shine—
For honor's high reward let others pine;
Him humbler toils await; not less severe:
To check the passions in their mad career;
With virtue's smile enamour'd, to resign
Each rapturous joy of youth's enlivening age;
To waste the silent hour in anxious pain,
And every fear and every hope assuage:
To feel corroding cares yet ne'er complain—
Labours like these his weary thoughts engage,
Whom the world deems of folly's listless train.

VIII. SONNET. To the SPIRIT of LAURA.

Shade of delight! shade whom my sighs revere!
Oh lead thy love where blissful phantoms dwell:
Whether in radiant bowers or lonely cell
Thy spirit rest, there let his form appear;
There haply feel, if spirits feel, the tear
Warm from relenting eyes spontaneous swell,
Bathe his wan cheek and all his woes dispel.
Vain are his hopes on earth and vain his fear:
A purer realm the mourner's toil repays,
Where spotless pleasure blooms eternal youth.
Not long his lingering flight thy love delays,
Not long laments thy loss in strain uncouth—
Hark! angels wake their harps, while he displays
Angelic charms—simplicity and truth!

IX. SONNET. On the dismemberment of Poland, and the events of 1793.

Of spirit valiant, weak of outward frame,
Too weak to bear the boisterous din of men,
I'll hide me in some solitary glen,
Where never vice unveil'd her scenes of shame.
Riot and war the maddening world inflame:
Unblushing tyranny deserts his den—
Come, sweet concealment! shroud me from his ken,
Nor let his bloody record boast my name!
Ye thoughts for others' weal that vainly pined,
Ye faded cheeks with deadly paleness spread,
Eyes, whose cold languor speaks a sorrowing mind,
Declare, how oft my heart profusely bled,
When kingly ruffians triumph'd o'er mankind,
And british vengeance—british honor—fled!

X. SONNET.

[Ill fated oak, dark frowning o'er the plain!]

Ill fated oak, dark frowning o'er the plain!
Amidst thy tresses of luxuriant green,
The wood's wild choristers were whilom seen,
Chaunting their melodies of simple vein:
When vollied thunder tore thy trunk amain,
Fearless, unbending was thy lofty mien;
Majestic ruin! safe from storms I ween
The supple weeds beneath thy wreck remain.
Ruin'd in innocence, like thee I stand;
Youth's wither'd front with dauntless courage rear,
To brave corruption raging o'er the land:
When blasting calumnies my visage sear,
When vice triumphant joins the yelling band;
Like thee, I meet my fate, and feel no fear!

XI. SONNET.

[Yes, Fancy yields me love's resistless lyre!]

Yes, Fancy yields me love's resistless lyre!
To wake the song of melody is mine,
Smoothly to modulate the luscious line,
With rapture melt, or tenderness inspire:
The breath of genius fans my youthful fire,
Celestial harmony forsakes the shrine,
Where erst she sat amid the choral nine,
And listening to my lays that breathe desire,
Marks the warm tears from Laura's eye-lid steal!
Those sacred drops no mortal measure drew—
I rave! I dream! Can death's pale shadow feel?
Silent, for ever cold!—Renew, renew
Thy plaint, that well might rend a heart of steel!
Not Fancy's self conceives the vision true!

XII. SONNET.

[Console a mourner, nymphs! no longer coy]

Console a mourner, nymphs! no longer coy,
Frown on my blighted youth: from cares I fly.
The mellow beamings of an artless eye,
The blush of innocence, the breath of joy,
Enchanting accents, smiles that chase annoy,
Ye will not, cannot to a wretch deny,
Whom lingering misery condemns to sigh,
Till pity's tear the flame of grief destroy.
No venal slave am I, the muse's scorn,
No base idolater of filthy gold—
Victim of beauty's power, with passion lorn,
The sport of fortune, virgins, ye behold.
Unveil your charms! recall hope's vernal morn!
E'er shades of endless sleep my form enfold!