Sketches in verse with prose illustrations. By Mr. Polwhele. Second edition, with several additional pieces |
 |
LINES ON THE DEATH OF A YOUNG LADY. |
 | Sketches in verse |  |
30
LINES ON THE DEATH OF A YOUNG LADY.
Feb. 13, 1780.
Ye Fair, who flirt in life's fantastic round,
Come, where a scene the face of anguish wears;
And, as the death-bell flings a sullen sound,
Be yours the precious luxury of tears.
Come, where a scene the face of anguish wears;
And, as the death-bell flings a sullen sound,
Be yours the precious luxury of tears.
Come, gentle spirits, tho' your bosoms heave
With wild emotions, bid not sorrow sleep;
To you, her lovely children, Nature gave
The heart to pity, and the eye to weep.
With wild emotions, bid not sorrow sleep;
To you, her lovely children, Nature gave
The heart to pity, and the eye to weep.
What tho' ye taste the dear deluding joy,
As each gay vision gilds the midnight hour;
O let not Fancy labour to destroy
In many an idle dream, Reflection's power.
As each gay vision gilds the midnight hour;
O let not Fancy labour to destroy
In many an idle dream, Reflection's power.
31
Full soon to weave the mazes of the dance,
To join with vacant mirth the festal roar,
To flutter thro' the regions of romance
In many an idle dream, shall charm no more.
To join with vacant mirth the festal roar,
To flutter thro' the regions of romance
In many an idle dream, shall charm no more.
Yes! she is gone. Lo, there she rests her head,
Pale as the spectre that appals the glooms:
Behold the shrivell'd features of the dead!
'Tis but to fade the rose of beauty blooms.
Pale as the spectre that appals the glooms:
Behold the shrivell'd features of the dead!
'Tis but to fade the rose of beauty blooms.
Ye Virgins, she was fairer far than you—
Fair as the Poet's pencil can pourtray:
And from those eyes, now quencht by Death's cold dew,
Pure native sense effus'd the vivid ray.
Fair as the Poet's pencil can pourtray:
And from those eyes, now quencht by Death's cold dew,
Pure native sense effus'd the vivid ray.
But a superior charm to Truth she ow'd,
Unpractis'd in the mimicries of Art:
Hers was the sweet simplicity that glow'd
With all the quick expression of the heart.
Unpractis'd in the mimicries of Art:
Hers was the sweet simplicity that glow'd
With all the quick expression of the heart.
32
Oft shall the scenes that mark'd her life arise,
And from her Henry steal a trembling tear,
As Memory paints her faded form in sighs—
Delicious sighs to Love and Fancy dear!
And from her Henry steal a trembling tear,
As Memory paints her faded form in sighs—
Delicious sighs to Love and Fancy dear!
Yet, why Amanda, shall Affection grieve
For thee, tho' hurried from our view by Fate,
Thee, whom a happier mansion shall receive,
And whom no perishable joys await.
For thee, tho' hurried from our view by Fate,
Thee, whom a happier mansion shall receive,
And whom no perishable joys await.
Go then, dear shade, where kindred spirits rest,
Go from a vale of darkness to the skies—
Go then, where He in whom thy soul is blest,
Shall wipe all tears for ever from thine eyes!
Go from a vale of darkness to the skies—
Go then, where He in whom thy soul is blest,
Shall wipe all tears for ever from thine eyes!
| Sketches in verse | |