 | Poems (1806) |  |
1. VOL. I
Elegiac Pieces.
148
TO A GENTLEMAN, WHO SHED TEARS IN COMPANY ON THE INTELLIGENCE THAT A FRIEND HAD DIED AT SEA OF A FRENZY FEVER.
1780.
O Blest! (though Apathy may boast the power
Of unmov'd features in the trying hour)
Blest be the tribute of those tears, that start
From Friendship's eye, the mirrors of the heart!
Of unmov'd features in the trying hour)
Blest be the tribute of those tears, that start
From Friendship's eye, the mirrors of the heart!
And ah! may he, whose vainly-social soul,
(Unheeding as it riots o'er the bowl)
With not a whisper from Reflection, hears
“How droop'd the spirit and the bloom of years;
“Sudden the victims of the oblivious grave—
“The shrivel'd corse—its winding-sheet a wave;”
May he, despis'd by all the feeling, live,
‘Nor taste one favour that the muse can give!’
(Unheeding as it riots o'er the bowl)
With not a whisper from Reflection, hears
“How droop'd the spirit and the bloom of years;
“Sudden the victims of the oblivious grave—
“The shrivel'd corse—its winding-sheet a wave;”
May he, despis'd by all the feeling, live,
‘Nor taste one favour that the muse can give!’
For thee, who oft when Sorrow's form appears,
Dost melt with female weakness into tears,
Though grinning Folly thy repose invade,
Pity shall veil thee in her softest shade;
Shall love thy sigh, when from his country torn,
Amid the murmurs of the deep forlorn,
Without one friend thy lost companion lies,
Without one friend to soothe him ere he dies!
Shall love thy tear, when not a star's dim light
Twinkles across the darkness of his night!
Pity shall tremble, as before thee glow
All the wild visions of severest woe;
As Frenzy, scowling on his short quick breath,
Hurries the fever of his brain to death;
As the lone spirit leaves its struggling clay,
And the last pangs of anguish faint away!
Dost melt with female weakness into tears,
156
Pity shall veil thee in her softest shade;
Shall love thy sigh, when from his country torn,
Amid the murmurs of the deep forlorn,
Without one friend thy lost companion lies,
Without one friend to soothe him ere he dies!
Shall love thy tear, when not a star's dim light
Twinkles across the darkness of his night!
Pity shall tremble, as before thee glow
All the wild visions of severest woe;
As Frenzy, scowling on his short quick breath,
Hurries the fever of his brain to death;
As the lone spirit leaves its struggling clay,
And the last pangs of anguish faint away!
P.
157
LAURA's RINGLET.
1783.
Dear was the moment, when the gentle fair
Gave to my wishes, with consenting eyes,
A Lock, that, sever'd from her lovely hair,
Could soften all my bosom into sighs!
Gave to my wishes, with consenting eyes,
A Lock, that, sever'd from her lovely hair,
Could soften all my bosom into sighs!
And dear those moments that so sweetly stole
A pang from absence, and impell'd my lyre
To wake each fond emotion of the soul
In melting ardors and a Poet's fire!
A pang from absence, and impell'd my lyre
To wake each fond emotion of the soul
In melting ardors and a Poet's fire!
Then Fancy stream'd her visions on the muse,
And many a transitory form portray'd;
Pictur'd aërial Sylphs in vivid hues,
And bid their little wings the Lock o'ershade.
And many a transitory form portray'd;
Pictur'd aërial Sylphs in vivid hues,
And bid their little wings the Lock o'ershade.
But quick their fluid shapes dissolve in air,
And other beings rise, as fancy wills—
Lo! drawn by turtles in her ivory car,
Appears the Goddess of the Paphian hills!
And other beings rise, as fancy wills—
Lo! drawn by turtles in her ivory car,
Appears the Goddess of the Paphian hills!
158
And thus: “That ringlet to my power resign—
“For, from its kindred tresses though it part,
“To give it brighter beauties shall be mine,
“With all the skill of imitative art.
“For, from its kindred tresses though it part,
“To give it brighter beauties shall be mine,
“With all the skill of imitative art.
“What though the fam'd Belinda's ravish'd hair
“May add new glory to the distant skies—
“Yet shall thy Laura's Lock eclipse the star
“That vainly shoots, and kindles as it flies!
“May add new glory to the distant skies—
“Yet shall thy Laura's Lock eclipse the star
“That vainly shoots, and kindles as it flies!
“Chang'd to the semblance of a female form,
(“The fairest that a Deity can feign)
“Can this, with all the glow of colors warm,
“Start into mimic life, to bloom in vain?”
(“The fairest that a Deity can feign)
“Can this, with all the glow of colors warm,
“Start into mimic life, to bloom in vain?”
She said—and from my hand the ringlet caught,
And sudden to my wondering sight display'd
Thy gift, my Laura, to a picture wrought,
With all the varied charms of light and shade!
And sudden to my wondering sight display'd
Thy gift, my Laura, to a picture wrought,
With all the varied charms of light and shade!
And “here,” she cried, (while round the fluttering loves
Breath'd on the roseate cheeks their softest blooms)
“Behold a nymph, more gentle than my doves,
“Or zephyr, sighing 'midst my Cyprian glooms!
Breath'd on the roseate cheeks their softest blooms)
“Behold a nymph, more gentle than my doves,
“Or zephyr, sighing 'midst my Cyprian glooms!
“See the pure spirit of a native grace
“To all her mien a lovelier air impart!
“And see that meek expression of a face
“Where in each genuine look we read the heart!
“To all her mien a lovelier air impart!
“And see that meek expression of a face
“Where in each genuine look we read the heart!
159
“These speaking eyes a charm from nature steal,
“Which vainly would the Rhetor's powers supply;
“For ah, more sweetly-eloquent we feel
“The language of the never-silent eye!
“Which vainly would the Rhetor's powers supply;
“For ah, more sweetly-eloquent we feel
“The language of the never-silent eye!
“Nor let her Attic robe escape thy view
“That no vain-tinsel'd pageantry betrays—
“Such as the pencil of Apelles drew,
“And Grecian virgins wore in ancient days!
“That no vain-tinsel'd pageantry betrays—
“Such as the pencil of Apelles drew,
“And Grecian virgins wore in ancient days!
“'Twas then the spirit of this nymph divine
“Shone to Electra's bard, in golden dreams;
“As oft he woo'd the favours of the Nine
“Amid the murmur of Ilyssus' streams.
“Shone to Electra's bard, in golden dreams;
“As oft he woo'd the favours of the Nine
“Amid the murmur of Ilyssus' streams.
“But ah—how long—how heavily opprest,
“While Athens moulder'd into dust, she lay—
“With Gothic darkness brooding o'er her breast,
“That gloom'd the sweetness of her soul away!
“While Athens moulder'd into dust, she lay—
“With Gothic darkness brooding o'er her breast,
“That gloom'd the sweetness of her soul away!
“If e'er the bards of Arno's oliv'd vale
“A wild note warbled to the pensive maid,
“Full soon, unheeding the degenerate tale,
“She fled, with many a sigh, from Pisa's shade.
“A wild note warbled to the pensive maid,
“Full soon, unheeding the degenerate tale,
“She fled, with many a sigh, from Pisa's shade.
“Next, in her favourite isle, the harp she strung:
“The British Minstrels triumph'd, as she came—
“Hail'd her—divine Simplicity; and sung
“With all Aonia's harmony, her name.
“The British Minstrels triumph'd, as she came—
“Hail'd her—divine Simplicity; and sung
“With all Aonia's harmony, her name.
160
“Mark then her image, as depictur'd here
“She gives to zephyr her Æolian shell;
“And mark that altar, which low-rising, near
“Yon poplar, crowns the solitary dell.
“She gives to zephyr her Æolian shell;
“And mark that altar, which low-rising, near
“Yon poplar, crowns the solitary dell.
“Glares round its pedestal no quaint design;
“Nor ought that meretricious art can boast:
“To nature rear'd, the unaspiring shrine
“Appears, ‘while unadorn'd, adorn'd the most.’
“Nor ought that meretricious art can boast:
“To nature rear'd, the unaspiring shrine
“Appears, ‘while unadorn'd, adorn'd the most.’
“Lo there she bids, arrang'd with happiest taste,
“The primrose and the violet diffuse
“Their mingled sweets, and blend in union chaste
“Their colors sombred o'er by twilight dews:
“The primrose and the violet diffuse
“Their mingled sweets, and blend in union chaste
“Their colors sombred o'er by twilight dews:
“While my soft star, that loves, each evening hour,
“To hover o'er the stillness of the dale,
“Amid the shadows of the poplar-bower
“Pours on the chequer'd shrine a lustre pale.
“To hover o'er the stillness of the dale,
“Amid the shadows of the poplar-bower
“Pours on the chequer'd shrine a lustre pale.
“From thence no spicy clouds involve the skies:
“Her humbler offering are yon vernal wreaths;
“And all the incense of her sacrifice
“Is but the incense that a field-flower breathes!”
“Her humbler offering are yon vernal wreaths;
“And all the incense of her sacrifice
“Is but the incense that a field-flower breathes!”
She spoke—and gave the Picture to my care,
And in the rich possession call'd me blest!
“And place it next thy heart (she cried) for there—
“That heaving sigh already tells the rest!
And in the rich possession call'd me blest!
“And place it next thy heart (she cried) for there—
“That heaving sigh already tells the rest!
161
“Go then—where Imitation's utmost art
“Has faintly copied (though employ'd by me)
“The bright original that fires thy heart;
“Go—and the living form in Laura see!”
“Has faintly copied (though employ'd by me)
“The bright original that fires thy heart;
“Go—and the living form in Laura see!”
P.
162
IN MEMORY OF THE LATE Mr. RACK, OF BATH.
Go, then, benignant spirit, go,
And with congenial spirits rest;
Escap'd from every earthly woe,
By Friendship's holiest wishes blest.
And with congenial spirits rest;
Escap'd from every earthly woe,
By Friendship's holiest wishes blest.
Merit, though snatch'd from mortal eye,
Lives to Affection's memory dear;
And worth like thine shall claim a sigh,
From all who knew thee claim a tear.
Lives to Affection's memory dear;
And worth like thine shall claim a sigh,
From all who knew thee claim a tear.
How often with delight I trace
Thy varied life,—an active scene;
Or mark the friend of human race
In sickness and in death serene!
Thy varied life,—an active scene;
Or mark the friend of human race
In sickness and in death serene!
Though in thy humble birth was found
No flattering hope of future fame,
And circumscrib'd in narrow bound,
The hamlet only knew thy name.
No flattering hope of future fame,
And circumscrib'd in narrow bound,
The hamlet only knew thy name.
163
Yet what can circumscribe the soul?
Soon with a spirited disdain
Thy genius spurn'd the base controul
Of fickle Fortune's galling chain.
Soon with a spirited disdain
Thy genius spurn'd the base controul
Of fickle Fortune's galling chain.
Untutor'd in the classic school,
Thy native sense could yet convey
To wandering youth each moral rule,
And guide them in the doubtful way.
Thy native sense could yet convey
To wandering youth each moral rule,
And guide them in the doubtful way.
Once too thy breast the favouring Muse
Saw with ambitious ardor warm;
But soon she bade her faery views
Cheat thy fond eye with fleeting charm.
Saw with ambitious ardor warm;
But soon she bade her faery views
Cheat thy fond eye with fleeting charm.
And was the bright poetic bay
No longer to thy brows decreed?
Behold thy labours to repay,
The wreath of truth thy nobler meed!
No longer to thy brows decreed?
Behold thy labours to repay,
The wreath of truth thy nobler meed!
To spread each salutary art,
By liberal plans with skill design'd,
And in historic strain impart
Some fresh instruction to the mind.
By liberal plans with skill design'd,
And in historic strain impart
Some fresh instruction to the mind.
164
These were thy aims—on these shall fame
Thy beautiful memorial raise,
And gratitude diffuse her flame
Through many a heart in future days.
Thy beautiful memorial raise,
And gratitude diffuse her flame
Through many a heart in future days.
And often, as her steps retire
Far from a world of pomp and strife,
Religion shall herself admire
That evening mild which clos'd thy life.
Far from a world of pomp and strife,
Religion shall herself admire
That evening mild which clos'd thy life.
Thy virtues, where thy relicks sleep,
Shall hover in the silent air;
And meek Simplicity shall weep
Thy gentle manners, lingering there.
Shall hover in the silent air;
And meek Simplicity shall weep
Thy gentle manners, lingering there.
And there, while veil'd in lucid white,
Her bosom shall incessant heave;
Shall young Sincerity delight
To deck her Mentor's honour'd grave.
Her bosom shall incessant heave;
Shall young Sincerity delight
To deck her Mentor's honour'd grave.
P.
165
IN MEMORY OF THE LATE Mr. SLEECH, ARCHDEACON OF CORNWALL.
Sweet is the balmy sigh, when sorrow grieves
For friendship torn from all the hopes of earth;
But doubly precious is the sigh, that heaves
O'er the pale ashes of distinguish'd worth.
For friendship torn from all the hopes of earth;
But doubly precious is the sigh, that heaves
O'er the pale ashes of distinguish'd worth.
Lamented Sleech! such excellence was thine,
Through many a path of varying life display'd;
Whether we view the dignified divine,
Or trace thy virtues to the private shade.
Through many a path of varying life display'd;
Whether we view the dignified divine,
Or trace thy virtues to the private shade.
While kindred minds thy traits of youth engage,
Its bright unfolding bloom be theirs to paint;
I only knew thy venerable age,
Where mildly beam'd the Patriarch in the Saint!
Its bright unfolding bloom be theirs to paint;
I only knew thy venerable age,
Where mildly beam'd the Patriarch in the Saint!
Ah! first I knew thee, when thy liberal charge
With all the spirit of thy Camden glow'd;
And fraught with a benevolence, too large
For narrow souls, in fine expansion flow'd.
With all the spirit of thy Camden glow'd;
And fraught with a benevolence, too large
For narrow souls, in fine expansion flow'd.
166
Then, as thy open countenance effus'd
The friendly lustre in its mental ray,
O'ershadow'd by a pensive thought, that mus'd
On the dim prospect of thy setting day;
The friendly lustre in its mental ray,
O'ershadow'd by a pensive thought, that mus'd
On the dim prospect of thy setting day;
Thy Clergy listen'd to the long adieu,
Which yet to memory fond affection gives;
And all the Father's reverend form withdrew,
Which in the duteous heart unfading lives.
Which yet to memory fond affection gives;
And all the Father's reverend form withdrew,
Which in the duteous heart unfading lives.
For who but hail'd the Father, as he saw
Thy gracious mein the unthinking million move;
Thy native dignity commanding awe,
Thy condescending smile inspiring love?
Thy gracious mein the unthinking million move;
Thy native dignity commanding awe,
Thy condescending smile inspiring love?
And, oh! let piety repose awhile
Upon thy warning voice, where memory owns,
Fluent along the still cathedral aisle,
The simple pathos in thy mellow tones;
Upon thy warning voice, where memory owns,
Fluent along the still cathedral aisle,
The simple pathos in thy mellow tones;
Where memory, as thy strong persuasion pours
Each unaffected accent on her ear,
Yet in the Christian preacher, yet adores
An energy that stamp'd thy faith sincere.
Each unaffected accent on her ear,
Yet in the Christian preacher, yet adores
An energy that stamp'd thy faith sincere.
If from the public scene thy steps retire,
Where every softer virtue loves to bless
Life's silent walk, the husband and the sire
Blend their dear influence in thy calm recess:
Where every softer virtue loves to bless
Life's silent walk, the husband and the sire
Blend their dear influence in thy calm recess:
167
There often shall thy genuine graces rise,
There often thy domestic worth be trac'd
By those who, closelier link'd in friendship's ties,
Imbib'd thy feelings and thy cultur'd taste.
There often thy domestic worth be trac'd
By those who, closelier link'd in friendship's ties,
Imbib'd thy feelings and thy cultur'd taste.
I too have mark'd thee musing with delight
On the fair visions of thy earlier youth,
When fiction, in Athenian glory bright,
Led thy free fancy to the bower of truth.
On the fair visions of thy earlier youth,
When fiction, in Athenian glory bright,
Led thy free fancy to the bower of truth.
And I have seen thee snatch the illusive charm,
That gives to life's gay morn its vivid glow;
And with the flush of long-lost feelings warm,
Melt o'er the ideal portraitures of woe.
That gives to life's gay morn its vivid glow;
And with the flush of long-lost feelings warm,
Melt o'er the ideal portraitures of woe.
But many a brooding ill, that darkens life,
To cloud those visionary views conspir'd;
What time disease, amid thy dwelling rife,
Thy wasting sons with fever'd venom fir'd.
To cloud those visionary views conspir'd;
What time disease, amid thy dwelling rife,
Thy wasting sons with fever'd venom fir'd.
Alas! it was thy doom to see disease
Assail thy offspring, with no power to save—
Ah! thine, to follow with enfeebled knees
Thy last-left son in sorrow to the grave.
Assail thy offspring, with no power to save—
Ah! thine, to follow with enfeebled knees
Thy last-left son in sorrow to the grave.
Yet thine, the genial comforts of the just:
Yet, “to confirm the feeble knees,” were given
Ætherial balms; and from the funeral dust
The parent rais'd his tearful eye—to heaven!
Yet, “to confirm the feeble knees,” were given
168
The parent rais'd his tearful eye—to heaven!
Thence holy Hope dispers'd thy earthly pain;
Chas'd every human relic of thy tears,
And smiling, to her own empyreal train
Resign'd thee, full of honours—full of years!
Chas'd every human relic of thy tears,
And smiling, to her own empyreal train
Resign'd thee, full of honours—full of years!
Ev'n when decaying nature, at the last,
As into quiet sleep sunk weary down,
With holy Hope thy placid moments past;
Thine eyes still fix'd upon thy heavenly crown!
As into quiet sleep sunk weary down,
With holy Hope thy placid moments past;
Thine eyes still fix'd upon thy heavenly crown!
And, as the period of thy bliss drew nigh,
Pure angels opening all the blest abode,
'Twas but the passing of one gentle sigh,
That told, thy parted spirit was with God.
Pure angels opening all the blest abode,
'Twas but the passing of one gentle sigh,
That told, thy parted spirit was with God.
P.
169
IN MEMORY OF THE LATE Mrs. DOBSON, OF EXETER.
If meekness, by affection rais'd, inspireThe bloom of beauty with a softer fire;
If quick sincerity the emotion dart,
That on the lustrous brow displays the heart;
Entranc'd the magic harmony we see—
Ah! Dobson, such as beam'd divine in thee!
And was it his, who knew to prize them most,
To mourn those dear attractions early lost;
Trembling, observe intelligence less warm,
Though sweetly-mild, illume thy faded form;
Survey thy meekness languishing in death,
And catch sincerity's fast-faultering breath?
Yet though he wore each look that anguish wears,
And bath'd thy pillow with unceasing tears;
Though he was doom'd to see thy blushes fly,
View thy pale lip, and mark thy clouded eye;
Hail with fond passion its reviving rays,
And on the last quick sparkle wildly gaze;
170
The conscious smile, that spoke thy placid thought.
Yet could he see, where death's cold languor stole,
The cherub Faith, that plum'd thy soaring soul;
Yet, sooth'd by visions, Faith can only give,
See, as the Wife expir'd, the Christian live!
P.
| Poems (1806) | |