Miscellaneous Pieces :: :: University of Virginia Library

Miscellaneous Pieces

in Verse and Prose, By Theodosia [i.e. Anne Steele]

Steele, Anne (1717-1778)

[epigraph]

[section]

[“Still bleeds the deep, deep wound!—Where is the friend]

[O for a gush of soul-relieving tears]

OCCASIONAL POEMS.

Ode to Spring, written in March.

Written in May,

The Sickly Mind.

To a Flower.

The Salutary Disappointment.

The Butterfly.

Ode to Melancholy.

Ode to Hope.

To Amira on the death of her Son.

Desiring to love Christ and obey him.

On hearing the Funeral Bell, After frequent deaths in the neighbourhood.

True Happiness.

Waiting for Morning.

To Amira on her Mother's illness.

On receiving a Mourning Ring for a Young Relative.

To Amira on the sudden Death of her Mother.

Ode on a rural Prospect in June.

The Complaint of the Mind.

To Silvia.

To Silvia pensive.

Written in a painful Illness.

Desiring a thankful Devotion to God.

The Happiness of the Children of God.

A reflection on hearing the Bell at the interment of a neighbour.

Desiring the gracious presence of God.

The presence of God, the only comfort in affliction.

Faith and Hope in divine goodness, encouraged by past experience.

A Thought of Life and Death.

Desiring a firmer affiance in God under afflictions.

Trusting in his mercy with humble submission and hope.

Intreating the presence of God in affliction.

Acknowledging his goodness in supporting and restoring.

Desiring to praise God for the experience of his goodness.

Penitence and Hope.

Devoting the heart to Jesus.

The love of Christ exciting thankful devotion.

On recovery from sickness.

Occasioned by hearing a friend commend my verses.

To Silvia.

Wishing for real Pleasure.

To Amira.

A Reflection on the close of the Year,

Desiring a cheerful Resignation to the Divine Will.

On the sudden death of a libertine.

To my Watch.

The third chapter of Daniel paraphrased.

Messiah, an Ode.

The Blind Man's Petition.

Rest and Comfort in Christ alone.

On the Fifth of November.

On a day of prayer for success in War.

Hymn for a day of public thanksgiving for Peace.

To ------, on the death of her father.

To Myra.

To an Infant three weeks old.

Hymn for the Lord's Day Morning.

Happy Poverty, or the Poor in Spirit blessed.

The necessity of renewing Grace.

The Pearl of great price.

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To Silvia pensive.

Tell me, Silvia, why the sigh
Heaves your bosom, why the tear
Steals unbidden from your eye?
Tell me what you wish or fear?

Providence profusely kind,
Wheresoe'er you turn your eyes,
Bids you with a grateful mind
View a thousand blessings rise.

Round you affluence spreads her stores,
Young health sparkles in your eye,
Tenderest, kindest friends are yours,
Tell me, Silvia, why you sigh?

'Tis, perhaps, some friendly voice
Softly whispers to your mind,
“Make not these alone your choice
“Heaven has blessings more refin'd.

“Thankful own what you enjoy,
“But a changing world like this,
“Where a thousand fears annoy,
“Cannot give you perfect bliss.

“Perfect bliss resides above,
“Far above yon azure sky;
“Bliss that merits all your love,
“Merits every anxious sigh.”

What, like this, has earth to give?
O my Silvia, in your breast
Let the admonition live,
Nor on earth desire to rest.

When your bosom breathes a sigh,
Or your eye emits a tear,
Let your wishes rise on high,
Ardent rise to bliss sincere.