The Poetical Works of the late Mrs Mary Robinson including many pieces never before published. In Three Volumes |
 | I. |
 | II. |
TO THE MYRTLE. |
| III. |
 | The Poetical Works of the late Mrs Mary Robinson |  |
213
TO THE MYRTLE.
Unfading branch of verdant hue,
In modest sweetness drest,
Shake off thy pearly tears of dew,
And decorate my breast.
In modest sweetness drest,
Shake off thy pearly tears of dew,
And decorate my breast.
Dear emblem of the feeling mind,
Truth's consecrated tree!
Still shall thy trembling blossoms find
A faithful friend in me.
Truth's consecrated tree!
Still shall thy trembling blossoms find
A faithful friend in me.
Nor chilling breeze, nor drizzling rain,
Thy glossy leaves can spoil,
Their sober beauties fresh remain
In every varying soil.
Thy glossy leaves can spoil,
Their sober beauties fresh remain
In every varying soil.
If e'er this aching heart of mine
A wand'ring thought should prove,
O let thy branches round it twine,
And bind it fast to Love!
A wand'ring thought should prove,
O let thy branches round it twine,
And bind it fast to Love!
214
For, ah! the little fluttering thing,
Amidst Life's tempest rude,
Has felt Affliction's sharpest sting,
Yet triumphs unsubdued!
Amidst Life's tempest rude,
Has felt Affliction's sharpest sting,
Yet triumphs unsubdued!
Like thee it braves the wintry wind
And mocks the storm's fierce pow'r;
Tho' from its hopes the blast unkind
Had torn each promis'd flow'r.
And mocks the storm's fierce pow'r;
Tho' from its hopes the blast unkind
Had torn each promis'd flow'r.
Tho' round its fibres barb'rous fate
Has twin'd an icy spell,
Still in its central fires elate
The purest passions dwell.
Has twin'd an icy spell,
Still in its central fires elate
The purest passions dwell.
When Life's disast'rous scene is fled,
This humble boon I crave:
Oh! bind your branches round my head,
And blossom on my grave!
This humble boon I crave:
Oh! bind your branches round my head,
And blossom on my grave!
| The Poetical Works of the late Mrs Mary Robinson | |