 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
1
BASIL and PHŒBE.
Phœbe, the brightest nymph of Beauty's train,
With tend'rest vows by Basil was addrest;
But Pride, of Happiness and Love the bane,
Forbad her speak the language of her breast.
With tend'rest vows by Basil was addrest;
But Pride, of Happiness and Love the bane,
Forbad her speak the language of her breast.
Slighted his vows, poor Basil inly pin'd,
No gleam of comfort opening to his view,
Whilst Pride and Love contend in Phœbe's mind;—
Ah, what has Pride with meek-ey'd Love to do!
No gleam of comfort opening to his view,
Whilst Pride and Love contend in Phœbe's mind;—
Ah, what has Pride with meek-ey'd Love to do!
Soon as the lark's first warblings float on air,
The neighb'ring grove knows Basil for its guest,
There sighing Eccho mocks his sad despair,
And every feeling doubly is confest.
The neighb'ring grove knows Basil for its guest,
There sighing Eccho mocks his sad despair,
And every feeling doubly is confest.
Upon a bank close by the river's side,
Musing on Basil, Phœbe lay repos'd;
The treach'rous earth gave way; the am'rous tide
Infolds the maid, and o'er her beauties clos'd.
Musing on Basil, Phœbe lay repos'd;
The treach'rous earth gave way; the am'rous tide
Infolds the maid, and o'er her beauties clos'd.
A shriek, and thunder from the whitening flood
Arous'd the swain, and ecchoed Danger nigh:—
With folded arms he long had musing stood,
And in his thoughts alone did Phœbe spy.
Arous'd the swain, and ecchoed Danger nigh:—
With folded arms he long had musing stood,
And in his thoughts alone did Phœbe spy.
2
Eager he flew the drowning wretch to save,
Like lightning plung'd amid the wat'ry roar,
And Jason-like from forth the liquid grave,
The more than golden fleece exulting bore.
Like lightning plung'd amid the wat'ry roar,
And Jason-like from forth the liquid grave,
The more than golden fleece exulting bore.
But in the speechless fair one when he saw,
Stretch'd on the strand, his Phœbe pale and cold,
Who can the chaos in his bosom draw?
Lovers may guess, but words can ne'er unfold.
Stretch'd on the strand, his Phœbe pale and cold,
Who can the chaos in his bosom draw?
Lovers may guess, but words can ne'er unfold.
Frantic he homeward bore the hapless maid;
His fault'ring tongue cou'd ill the tale relate;
But heav'n in pity sent reviving aid,
She wak'd, and Basil bless'd his happy fate.
His fault'ring tongue cou'd ill the tale relate;
But heav'n in pity sent reviving aid,
She wak'd, and Basil bless'd his happy fate.
Again her beauties glad the wond'ring plains,
Her cheeks the lilly and the rose display;
Whilst fever riots thro' poor Basil's veins,
And Death with greedy maw o'er-hangs his prey.
Her cheeks the lilly and the rose display;
Whilst fever riots thro' poor Basil's veins,
And Death with greedy maw o'er-hangs his prey.
The nymph, alarm'd, to Basil straightway flies,
And at his feet herself, all-trembling, cast;
“To save ungrateful Phœbe, Basil dies,
“That hour that knells for Basil, marks my last.
And at his feet herself, all-trembling, cast;
“To save ungrateful Phœbe, Basil dies,
“That hour that knells for Basil, marks my last.
“My Basil, my preserver! here—ah—view
“A maid unworthy such exalted truth;
“Had I the world's heap'd treasures—all were due
“To worth like your's—He hears me not, dear youth.
“A maid unworthy such exalted truth;
“Had I the world's heap'd treasures—all were due
“To worth like your's—He hears me not, dear youth.
“How to his plainings cou'd I close mine ear?
“How to his virtues cou'd I prove unkind?
“To my own heart how prove so insincere?
“But cursed Pride had warp'd and stain'd my mind.
“How to his virtues cou'd I prove unkind?
3
“But cursed Pride had warp'd and stain'd my mind.
“Tho' flocks more numerous and richer meads
“I boast, than gen'rous Basil's scanty store,
“Merit like his Wealth's futile boast exceeds,
“Basil is rich, and pride-stain'd Phœbe's poor.
“I boast, than gen'rous Basil's scanty store,
“Merit like his Wealth's futile boast exceeds,
“Basil is rich, and pride-stain'd Phœbe's poor.
“A stranger from this hour to peace or rest,
“Ne'er will repentant Phœbe quit the room,
“'Till heav'n in Basil's safety makes me blest,
“Or gives us both devoted to the tomb.”—
“Ne'er will repentant Phœbe quit the room,
“'Till heav'n in Basil's safety makes me blest,
“Or gives us both devoted to the tomb.”—
Close to his pillow, watchful now she sits,
Her throbbing bosom pierc'd with anguish keen;
Nor for a moment her dear Basil quits;
A nurse so young, so fair, is seldom seen.
Her throbbing bosom pierc'd with anguish keen;
Nor for a moment her dear Basil quits;
A nurse so young, so fair, is seldom seen.
No med'cine save from Phœbe's hand he knows,
Her care a quick return of health ensures;
With Love's sweet balm each healing cup o'erflows;—
Tho' Love can wound, his balm as certain cures.
Her care a quick return of health ensures;
With Love's sweet balm each healing cup o'erflows;—
Tho' Love can wound, his balm as certain cures.
Basil restor'd, Love smiling leads the way;
The wish'd-for knot is at the altar ty'd;
And nymphs and shepherds bless the happy day,
When Love triumphant banish'd hateful Pride.
The wish'd-for knot is at the altar ty'd;
And nymphs and shepherds bless the happy day,
When Love triumphant banish'd hateful Pride.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |