Rough Sketches of Bath, and Other Poems By Thomas Bayly ... Fifth Edition, with Additions |
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HARRIET --- |
 | Rough Sketches of Bath, and Other Poems |  |
125
HARRIET ---
Poor harriet! where is the placid brow,
And the mirth that used to adorn thee;
Thy innocent smiles have all left thee now,
And the friends of thy childhood scorn thee.
And the mirth that used to adorn thee;
Thy innocent smiles have all left thee now,
And the friends of thy childhood scorn thee.
Thy conscious unworthiness wounds thee deep,
Remorse is inflicting its terrors;
And young as thou art thou hast learnt to weep
And blush for thy former errors.
Remorse is inflicting its terrors;
And young as thou art thou hast learnt to weep
And blush for thy former errors.
The friendly encomiums once so dear,
The sound of public applauses,
Are forfeited now for the lonely tear
Which bitter repentance causes.
The sound of public applauses,
Are forfeited now for the lonely tear
Which bitter repentance causes.
126
With love on his lips the deceiver came;
And innocence sadly trembles,
When guilt takes affection's endearing name,
And merciless vice dissembles.
And innocence sadly trembles,
When guilt takes affection's endearing name,
And merciless vice dissembles.
Poor Harriet! none shall thy sorrows heal,
Thy shame from the world concealing;
And those who for others are wont to feel,
To thee shall appear unfeeling.
Thy shame from the world concealing;
And those who for others are wont to feel,
To thee shall appear unfeeling.
Thy errors, lost girl, can no pity gain,
Though pity might yet reclaim thee;
The fair shall behold thee with cold disdain,
And think it a fault to name thee.
Though pity might yet reclaim thee;
The fair shall behold thee with cold disdain,
And think it a fault to name thee.
Do they shrink from the wretch who has caused thy fall,
Does his crime their contempt awaken?
Will he be an outcast condemn'd by all,
And wander like thee forsaken?
Does his crime their contempt awaken?
Will he be an outcast condemn'd by all,
And wander like thee forsaken?
127
Oh no! in the world he may still be gay,
And the fair may with smiles receive him;
The heartless betrayer may still betray,
And none for his guilt shall leave him.
And the fair may with smiles receive him;
The heartless betrayer may still betray,
And none for his guilt shall leave him.
Poor Harriet! sad though thy fate may be,
Though on earth thou art unforgiven,
Repentance may blot all thy stains from thee,
And lead thee reclaim'd to heaven.
Though on earth thou art unforgiven,
Repentance may blot all thy stains from thee,
And lead thee reclaim'd to heaven.
There the mourner a milder doom may meet,
When all earthly hope shall leave her,
More blest as the victim of man's deceit,
Than he who could thus deceive her.
When all earthly hope shall leave her,
More blest as the victim of man's deceit,
Than he who could thus deceive her.
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