 | Poems |  |
52
VERSES,
SENT WITH SOME PRIMROSES TO A YOUNG LADY, WHO HAD PROMISED US A VISIT EARLY IN THE SPRING.
FEB. 7, 1808.
In learned Berkeley's fabled theme—
Philosophy's poetic dream!
Where—to our world, alas! unknown—
He fix'd perfection's airy throne;
In that bright theme, unshaken truth
Beam'd in each Mezoranian youth;
Nor fickle swain, nor changeful fair,
Nor broken vows, were heard of there;
But Flora's characters exprest
The wishes of each blameless breast,
And sav'd a world of lover's sighs,
Of blushes bright, and down-cast eyes.
First the pure bud, whose soft leaves swell
Inclos'd within their mossy cell,
Of infant love the fair one tell;
And next appears the half-blown rose,
Whose radiance like her beauty glows,
And still increasing passion shows;
Till in the full-expanded flower,
Triumphant love proclaims his power.
Philosophy's poetic dream!
Where—to our world, alas! unknown—
He fix'd perfection's airy throne;
In that bright theme, unshaken truth
Beam'd in each Mezoranian youth;
Nor fickle swain, nor changeful fair,
Nor broken vows, were heard of there;
But Flora's characters exprest
The wishes of each blameless breast,
“If the man be the person the woman likes, he presents her with a flower just in the bud, which she takes, and puts in her breast. If she is engaged before, she shows him one, to signify her engagement; which, if in the bud only, shows the courtship is gone no further than the first proposal and liking; if half-blown, or the like, it is an emblem of further progress; if full-blown, it signifies that her choice is determined, from whence they can never recede.” Gaudentio di Lucca, page 132.
53
Of blushes bright, and down-cast eyes.
First the pure bud, whose soft leaves swell
Inclos'd within their mossy cell,
Of infant love the fair one tell;
And next appears the half-blown rose,
Whose radiance like her beauty glows,
And still increasing passion shows;
Till in the full-expanded flower,
Triumphant love proclaims his power.
If then gay Flora's fragrant race
Can changeful love's gradations trace,—
Love! ever varying, ebbing, flowing,
Sinking in woe, with rapture glowing,—
Calm friendship surely may employ
These tokens sweet of grief or joy;
But not the blushing rose I send,
As my glad pledge to thee, my friend!
For thorns that brilliant rose surround,
And, like the god, his emblems wound.
I send those blossoms fair and pure,
That winter's stormy gales endure;
Those blossoms, firstlings of the year,
To sportive childhood ever dear.
Oh! still how fresh to memory's eyes
Those hours of childish bliss arise,
When in the deep and tangled dell,
I pluck'd the flowers I lov'd so well;
Or, on the primrose bank reclin'd,
Gay bouquets form'd, or garlands twin'd,
Deck'd hat and frock in flowery state,
And totter'd with the fragrant weight.
And still, no infant better loves
To view the primrose-spangled groves;
When, first of spring's enchanting train,
They bloom beside the verdant plain.
But doubly dear these timid flowers,
Sweet harbingers of happy hours!
Like drooping worth by Fortune scorn'd,
Late in the wintry blast they mourn'd,
Soon shall they bloom beneath thine eye!
Soon on thy snowy bosom die!
Can changeful love's gradations trace,—
Love! ever varying, ebbing, flowing,
Sinking in woe, with rapture glowing,—
Calm friendship surely may employ
These tokens sweet of grief or joy;
But not the blushing rose I send,
As my glad pledge to thee, my friend!
54
And, like the god, his emblems wound.
I send those blossoms fair and pure,
That winter's stormy gales endure;
Those blossoms, firstlings of the year,
To sportive childhood ever dear.
Oh! still how fresh to memory's eyes
Those hours of childish bliss arise,
When in the deep and tangled dell,
I pluck'd the flowers I lov'd so well;
Or, on the primrose bank reclin'd,
Gay bouquets form'd, or garlands twin'd,
Deck'd hat and frock in flowery state,
And totter'd with the fragrant weight.
And still, no infant better loves
To view the primrose-spangled groves;
When, first of spring's enchanting train,
They bloom beside the verdant plain.
But doubly dear these timid flowers,
Sweet harbingers of happy hours!
55
Late in the wintry blast they mourn'd,
Soon shall they bloom beneath thine eye!
Soon on thy snowy bosom die!
But ere ye die, lov'd flowerets! say,
“Haste! lovely Mary, haste away!
“At kindred friendship's call, arise!
“Seek southern bowers, and milder skies!
“Go, heighten spring's enraptur'd pleasures!
“Go, shed around thy heart's rich treasures!
“Fond tears as bright as morning dews,
“Sweet sunny smiles, around diffuse!
“Go! dearer than the rose of May,
“To southern bowers, fair maid, away!
“Haste! lovely Mary, haste away!
“At kindred friendship's call, arise!
“Seek southern bowers, and milder skies!
“Go, heighten spring's enraptur'd pleasures!
“Go, shed around thy heart's rich treasures!
“Fond tears as bright as morning dews,
“Sweet sunny smiles, around diffuse!
“Go! dearer than the rose of May,
“To southern bowers, fair maid, away!
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