Valentine Verses or, Lines of Truth, Love, and Virtue. By the Reverend Richard Cobbold |
 |
NUCULA COBBOLDIÆ. |
 | Valentine Verses |  |
135
NUCULA COBBOLDIÆ.
Hail Lady! sacred to the Poet's eye,
This Nucula Cobboldiæ; but why?
Because it speaks what never spake another,
The praise and honor of a tender Mother!
Well has conchologist in note below,
Recorded worth! that worth 'twas thine to know.
Forgive the feeling, let a Poet's song,
Express his gratitude? Ah, long! long! long!
Whilst son can feel, shall tenderness relate
A mother's worth; that worth 'tis mine to state.
Lady, has nature ever charm to wake,
Thy soul from slumber, at the morning's break?
Has sun a beam can glitter in thine eye?
Has diamond lustre? Didst thou ever spy
The secret glance from lover breaking forth?
If so, thou'lt estimate a parent's worth.
First sound of pleasure, in our infant day,
That being's name, who taught our lips to pray.
First sight of rapture, when the mother's head
Peeps in the cot, above the baby's bed!
Say, hast thou seen the pure extatic smile,
The start of Innocence? can love beguile
At any moment, care, or toil, or woe?
The infant's joyful leap, such pow'r must show.
When first essaying in the youthful throng,
A mother's smile has cheer'd our feeble song;
When first our years advancing with our height,
Her eye beheld, the gratifying sight.
Say, Lady, canst thou e'er behold another
So truly fond and faithful as thy mother?
Think thou with him who dedicates this line,
In purest transport of respect! of thine!
Was she a kind, affectionate, good friend;
Encouraged virtue; taught thee to attend
To moral precepts, and religion's voice?
To study nature? to be firm in choice?
To fear no mortal, but to love, obey;
Thy betters envy not; nor turn away
When aught of good, or honorable deed,
Remain'd for duty, to enforce with speed?
Say, has she prompted thee to seek and find,
In nature virtue, and in science mind;
Applauded good, reproved, in wisdom sound,
That vice too apt to kindle, and abound?
O Lady, such a mother was to me,
The dearest Nucula Cobboldiæ!
This Nucula Cobboldiæ; but why?
Because it speaks what never spake another,
The praise and honor of a tender Mother!
Well has conchologist in note below,
Recorded worth! that worth 'twas thine to know.
Forgive the feeling, let a Poet's song,
Express his gratitude? Ah, long! long! long!
Whilst son can feel, shall tenderness relate
A mother's worth; that worth 'tis mine to state.
Lady, has nature ever charm to wake,
Thy soul from slumber, at the morning's break?
Has sun a beam can glitter in thine eye?
Has diamond lustre? Didst thou ever spy
136
If so, thou'lt estimate a parent's worth.
First sound of pleasure, in our infant day,
That being's name, who taught our lips to pray.
First sight of rapture, when the mother's head
Peeps in the cot, above the baby's bed!
Say, hast thou seen the pure extatic smile,
The start of Innocence? can love beguile
At any moment, care, or toil, or woe?
The infant's joyful leap, such pow'r must show.
When first essaying in the youthful throng,
A mother's smile has cheer'd our feeble song;
When first our years advancing with our height,
Her eye beheld, the gratifying sight.
Say, Lady, canst thou e'er behold another
So truly fond and faithful as thy mother?
Think thou with him who dedicates this line,
In purest transport of respect! of thine!
Was she a kind, affectionate, good friend;
Encouraged virtue; taught thee to attend
To moral precepts, and religion's voice?
To study nature? to be firm in choice?
To fear no mortal, but to love, obey;
Thy betters envy not; nor turn away
When aught of good, or honorable deed,
Remain'd for duty, to enforce with speed?
137
In nature virtue, and in science mind;
Applauded good, reproved, in wisdom sound,
That vice too apt to kindle, and abound?
O Lady, such a mother was to me,
The dearest Nucula Cobboldiæ!
Hail thou this emblem of a Mother's Fame,
The richest Prize of merit;—A Good Name.—
The richest Prize of merit;—A Good Name.—
Note. “Being desirous of commemorating Mrs. Cobbold, whose copious collection obtained with great industry, in company with several of the junior branches of her family, whom she delighted to inspire with a love for the works of Nature, from the Crag-pits of her own estate, evinces a degree of taste and zeal seldom met with; I have named this rare, and withal elegant shell, after her.” Vide Sowerby's Mineral Conchology, Vol. 2. page 177. plate 180.
| Valentine Verses | |