The Poetical Works of the late Mrs Mary Robinson including many pieces never before published. In Three Volumes |
 | I. |
 | II. |
Written on seeing a Rose still blooming at a Cottage Door
on Egham Hill, the 25th of October, 1800.
|
| III. |
 | The Poetical Works of the late Mrs Mary Robinson |  |
225
Written on seeing a Rose still blooming at a Cottage Door on Egham Hill, the 25th of October, 1800.
Why dost thou linger still, sweet flow'r?
Why yet remain, thy leaves to flaunt?
This is for thee no fost'ring hour—
The cold wind blows,
And many a chilling, ruthless show'r
Will now assail thee, beauteous rose!
Why yet remain, thy leaves to flaunt?
This is for thee no fost'ring hour—
The cold wind blows,
And many a chilling, ruthless show'r
Will now assail thee, beauteous rose!
Around thee hardy trees may shew
Their verdant branches later still;
But thy soft blushes, taught to glow
For Summer's day,
Must, when the wint'ry tempests blow,
Like Beauty's cheek, fade fast away.
Their verdant branches later still;
But thy soft blushes, taught to glow
For Summer's day,
Must, when the wint'ry tempests blow,
Like Beauty's cheek, fade fast away.
Youth's glowing emblem! wherefore stay
And waste thy balmy breath around?
This is for thee a killing day—
Then wherefore here
Waste thy sweet life in sighs away,
Bath'd with chill Winter's frozen tear?
And waste thy balmy breath around?
This is for thee a killing day—
Then wherefore here
Waste thy sweet life in sighs away,
Bath'd with chill Winter's frozen tear?
226
Thou emblemest the beauteous mind
Thrown on Oblivion's gloomy scene:
Unheeded, with the wild weeds twin'd,
Thou here art plac'd—
Thou, whom by Nature's hand design'd,
Might'st Beauty's breast have proudly grac'd.
Thrown on Oblivion's gloomy scene:
Unheeded, with the wild weeds twin'd,
Thou here art plac'd—
Thou, whom by Nature's hand design'd,
Might'st Beauty's breast have proudly grac'd.
Sweet rose! methinks I hear thee say—
I might have tasted Beauty's smile;
Have bask'd beneath blue-eye's ray,
And sank in death!
Short would have been my glowing day,
And transient pass'd my fleeting breath.
I might have tasted Beauty's smile;
Have bask'd beneath blue-eye's ray,
And sank in death!
Short would have been my glowing day,
And transient pass'd my fleeting breath.
I might have bound the golden hair,
Whose folds luxuriant wave and glow
Round youth's unfurrow'd forehead fair!
But one short day
Had seen my beauties rich and rare
Droop and for ever fade away!
Whose folds luxuriant wave and glow
Round youth's unfurrow'd forehead fair!
But one short day
Had seen my beauties rich and rare
Droop and for ever fade away!
Here the poor hovel still displays
My ling'ring form, while other flow'rs
Long since have seen their sunny days,
And shed their sweets;
Yet here my bosom morning's rays
And morning's tear unvanquish'd meets.
My ling'ring form, while other flow'rs
Long since have seen their sunny days,
And shed their sweets;
Yet here my bosom morning's rays
And morning's tear unvanquish'd meets.
227
Then happier far the lowly Cot
Where Nature's modest children reign,
Than e'en ambition's loftier lot;
For wealth and pow'r,
In blank oblivion's gloom forgot,
Soon move but the phantoms of a summer hour.
Where Nature's modest children reign,
Than e'en ambition's loftier lot;
For wealth and pow'r,
In blank oblivion's gloom forgot,
Soon move but the phantoms of a summer hour.
| The Poetical Works of the late Mrs Mary Robinson | |