The Poetical Works of the late Mrs Mary Robinson including many pieces never before published. In Three Volumes |
 | I. |
 | II. |
STANZAS ON MAY 1799. |
| III. |
 | The Poetical Works of the late Mrs Mary Robinson |  |
270
STANZAS ON MAY 1799.
Sweet May! once the parent of love, we behold
Sighing sad for her verdant array;
While the glow of her bosom is check'd by the cold,
And her tears tremble still on the spray.
Sighing sad for her verdant array;
While the glow of her bosom is check'd by the cold,
And her tears tremble still on the spray.
Say, Nature! O why is this change so severe?
Why does Spring wear so chilling a frown?
Why does noon still present unabsorb'd morning's tear,
Why does May still expect its green gown?
Why does Spring wear so chilling a frown?
Why does noon still present unabsorb'd morning's tear,
Why does May still expect its green gown?
Is love grown so cold, does the bosom no more
Glow with ardour to greet thee, sweet May?
Is the smile and the frolic of youth ever o'er,
And extinct the bright torch of thy day?
Glow with ardour to greet thee, sweet May?
Is the smile and the frolic of youth ever o'er,
And extinct the bright torch of thy day?
271
Alas! all is chang'd; the fine feelings subside,
'Tis the triumph of Apathy cold!
Affection is driv'n from the bosom of pride,
And the fiend that expels her—is Gold!
'Tis the triumph of Apathy cold!
Affection is driv'n from the bosom of pride,
And the fiend that expels her—is Gold!
Sour Interest keeps her aloof, while no more
Soft Philanthropy smiles on Despair;
Tho' Profusion and Folly wide scatter their store,
For the dull and the vicious to share.
Soft Philanthropy smiles on Despair;
Tho' Profusion and Folly wide scatter their store,
For the dull and the vicious to share.
All Nature is alter'd; her energies now
Shall no more in our vallies prevail;
No swain on our mountains repeats his soft vow,
And no damsel breathes love with the gale.
Shall no more in our vallies prevail;
No swain on our mountains repeats his soft vow,
And no damsel breathes love with the gale.
War teaches the bosom of Nature to sigh,
While she gazes with anguish around,
While the tear of Religion falls fast from her eye,
And each morn blushes deep on her wound.
While she gazes with anguish around,
While the tear of Religion falls fast from her eye,
And each morn blushes deep on her wound.
O May! let thy smiles and thy graces return,
Let thy breath Nature's treasures inclose;
Let her tears on thy flow'rets embellish the urn
Where the ashes of valour repose.
Let thy breath Nature's treasures inclose;
Let her tears on thy flow'rets embellish the urn
Where the ashes of valour repose.
272
Let the revels of Pride and of Folly be o'er,
Give to Merit the prodigal feast;
And let Pity the haunts of the wretched explore,
Till the portion of pain be decreas'd.
Give to Merit the prodigal feast;
And let Pity the haunts of the wretched explore,
Till the portion of pain be decreas'd.
And let Wealth to the mansions of Sorrow repair,
With its weeds the sweet olive entwine;
With the sigh of Regret fan the breast of Despair,
And the wreath of false splendour resign.
With its weeds the sweet olive entwine;
With the sigh of Regret fan the breast of Despair,
And the wreath of false splendour resign.
| The Poetical Works of the late Mrs Mary Robinson | |