Trifles :: :: University of Virginia Library

Beneath a cool shade, by the side of a stream,
Thus breath'd a fond shepherd,, his Kitty his theme:
Thy beauties comparing, my dearest, said he,
There's nothing in Nature so lovely as thee.

199

II

Tho' distance divides us, I view thy dear face,
And wander in transport o'er every grace;
Now, now I behold thee, sweet-smiling and pretty,
O gods! you've made nothing so fair as my Kitty!

III

Come, lovely idea, come fill my fond arms,
And whilst in soft rapture I gaze on thy charms,
The beautiful objects which round me arise,
Shall yield to those beauties that live in thine eyes.

IV

Now Flora the meads and the groves does adorn.
With flowers and blossoms on every thorn;
But look on my Kitty!—there sweetly does blow,
A spring of more beauties than Flora can show.

V

See, see how that rose there adorns the gay bush,
And proud of its colour, wou'd vie with her blush.
Vain boaster! thy beauties shall quickly decay,
She blushes—and see how it withers away.

VI

Observe that fair lily, the pride of the vale,
In whitness unrivall'd, now droop and look pale;
It sickens, and changes its beautiful hue,
And bows down its head in submission to you.

200

VII

The zephyrs that fan me beneath the cool shade,
When panting with heat on the ground I am laid,
Are less greatful and sweet than the heavenly air
That breaths from her lips when she whispers—my dear.

VIII

I hear the gay lark, as she mounts in the skies,
How sweet are her notes! how delightful her voice!
Go dwell in the air, little warbler, go!
I have musick enough while my Kitty's below.

IX

With pleasure I watch the industrious bee,
Extracting her sweets from each flower and tree:
Ah fools! thus to labour to keep you a live;
Fly, fly to her lips, and at once fill your hive.

X

See there, on the top of that oak, how the doves
Sit brooding each other, and cooing their loves:
Our loves are thus tender, thus mutual our joy,
When folded on each other's bosom we lie.

XI

It glads me to see how the pretty young lambs
Are fondled, and cherish'd, and lov'd by their dams:
The lambs are less pretty, my dearest, then thee;
Their dams are less fond, nor so tender as me.

201

XII

As I gaze on the river that smoothly glides by,
Thus even and sweet is her temper, I cry;
Thus clear is her mind, thus calm and serene,
And virtues, like gems, at the bottom are seen.

XIII

Here various flowers still paint the gay scene,
And as some fade and die, others bud and look green;
The charms of my Kitty are constant as they;
Her virtues will bloom as her beauties decay.

XIV

But in vain I compare her, here's nothing so bright,
And drakness approaches to hinder my sight:
To bed I will hasten, and there all her charms,
In softer ideas, I'll bring to my arms.