The Poetical Works of the late Mrs Mary Robinson including many pieces never before published. In Three Volumes |
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| II. |
 | III. |
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TO LEONARDO. |
 | The Poetical Works of the late Mrs Mary Robinson |  |
241
TO LEONARDO.
And dost thou hope to fan my flame
With the soft breath of friendship's name?
And dost thou think the thin disguise
Can veil the mischief from my eyes?
Alas, sweet bard! the dazzling ray
Long round my fearful heart did play,
In reason's sober mantle drest;
It pour'd warm incense on my breast,
My mind in rosy fetters bound,
Then, smiling, gave th' insidious wound!
With the soft breath of friendship's name?
And dost thou think the thin disguise
Can veil the mischief from my eyes?
Alas, sweet bard! the dazzling ray
Long round my fearful heart did play,
In reason's sober mantle drest;
It pour'd warm incense on my breast,
My mind in rosy fetters bound,
Then, smiling, gave th' insidious wound!
Yes, I have liv'd each bliss to feel
That o'er the sensate heart can steal;
Have tasted all that youth could bring
On giddy fashion's painted wing;
Have mark'd the base and sordid mind
Couch'd in the sentiment refin'd!
Have known flush'd adulation's song
The brain's weak lab'rinths wind among,
And with its feath'ry touch impart
Corroding anguish to the heart!
Have heard the soothing, specious tale
O'er th' unguarded sense prevail,
In ev'ry varying clime the same,
Under the mask of friendship's name.
That o'er the sensate heart can steal;
Have tasted all that youth could bring
On giddy fashion's painted wing;
Have mark'd the base and sordid mind
Couch'd in the sentiment refin'd!
Have known flush'd adulation's song
The brain's weak lab'rinths wind among,
242
Corroding anguish to the heart!
Have heard the soothing, specious tale
O'er th' unguarded sense prevail,
In ev'ry varying clime the same,
Under the mask of friendship's name.
Harmonious bard! if thou hast found
Envenom'd slander's careless wound;
If hopes o'erthrown, and jealous fears,
Have drench'd thy manly cheek with tears;
If fell caprice, insatiate fiend,
Has taught the darling of thy mind,
Unblushing, with the vile to rove
In the coarse path of vagrant love;
O scorn the wretch, subdue thy pains,
And soar exulting from her chains!
Yes, I can “triumph,” I can “bear,”
Can quell the ruthless fiend despair;
Can brave ingratitude's keen dart,
And pluck it, rankling, from my heart.
Envenom'd slander's careless wound;
If hopes o'erthrown, and jealous fears,
Have drench'd thy manly cheek with tears;
If fell caprice, insatiate fiend,
Has taught the darling of thy mind,
Unblushing, with the vile to rove
In the coarse path of vagrant love;
O scorn the wretch, subdue thy pains,
And soar exulting from her chains!
Yes, I can “triumph,” I can “bear,”
Can quell the ruthless fiend despair;
Can brave ingratitude's keen dart,
And pluck it, rankling, from my heart.
But cease thy soft notes' silver strain,
That wakes thy soul to living pain;
Cease to recall thy slumb'ring mind
To all the pangs it left behind:
Perhaps again love's potent art
May wind a spell about thy heart,
May round its branching fibres twine
The thrilling joy, the hope divine,
Thy feeling breast again may prove
Th' ecstatic harmonies of love.
Nor will I bend my lonely way
Where cheerless horror veils the day:
Can Lapland's chilling spheres control
The genial warmth that swells the soul?
'Midst lakes of ice, or clouds of snow,
Thy swelling bosom still would glow;
Nor will its vivid pow'rs decay
'Till life's last flame shall fade away!
That wakes thy soul to living pain;
Cease to recall thy slumb'ring mind
To all the pangs it left behind:
Perhaps again love's potent art
May wind a spell about thy heart,
243
The thrilling joy, the hope divine,
Thy feeling breast again may prove
Th' ecstatic harmonies of love.
Nor will I bend my lonely way
Where cheerless horror veils the day:
Can Lapland's chilling spheres control
The genial warmth that swells the soul?
'Midst lakes of ice, or clouds of snow,
Thy swelling bosom still would glow;
Nor will its vivid pow'rs decay
'Till life's last flame shall fade away!
| The Poetical Works of the late Mrs Mary Robinson | |