 | Metrical Effusions |  |
78
TO MARIA.
Tell me, Maria, lovely maid!
Why is that gentle breast afraid
Of friendship's hallow'd flame?
Say, can a mind so pure as thine,
Suspect a heart sincere as mine
Of any selfish aim?
Why is that gentle breast afraid
Of friendship's hallow'd flame?
Say, can a mind so pure as thine,
Suspect a heart sincere as mine
Of any selfish aim?
79
Was it the dictate stern and cool
Of nice decorum's rigid school,
Which bade thee slight my strain?
Or was it female pride alone,
Which scorn'd a simple bard, unknown
To fashion's gaudy train?
Of nice decorum's rigid school,
Which bade thee slight my strain?
Or was it female pride alone,
Which scorn'd a simple bard, unknown
To fashion's gaudy train?
Believe me, lovely maid! a mind
Like thine, ingenuous and refin'd,
Is virtue's surest guard;
It needs not heed what gossips say,
With conscious rectitude its stay,
And peace its blest reward.
Like thine, ingenuous and refin'd,
Is virtue's surest guard;
It needs not heed what gossips say,
With conscious rectitude its stay,
And peace its blest reward.
And though my humble path, unknown,
Or mark'd by friendship's eye alone,
Be scorn'd by fashion's train,
Maria! I would not exchange
My lot with theirs, the world who range
For pleasure, or for gain.
Or mark'd by friendship's eye alone,
Be scorn'd by fashion's train,
Maria! I would not exchange
My lot with theirs, the world who range
For pleasure, or for gain.
80
If I could envy one on earth,
'Twould be that happy youth, whose worth
Should wake love's gentle fire
Within thy artless, spotless breast,
There reign a favourite confest,
And bid thy fears expire.
'Twould be that happy youth, whose worth
Should wake love's gentle fire
Within thy artless, spotless breast,
There reign a favourite confest,
And bid thy fears expire.
Oh! may the youth the fates ordain
To wear thy dear, delightful chain,
The glorious bondage bless;
And thou thyself, from scruples freed,
Nobly bestow that richest meed,
Which seals his happiness.
To wear thy dear, delightful chain,
The glorious bondage bless;
And thou thyself, from scruples freed,
Nobly bestow that richest meed,
Which seals his happiness.
And canst thou ask—what is that meed?
I'll tell thee—'tis with joy to read
The language of the heart,
When in the silent, speaking eye,
Expressive of the smother'd sigh,
The tears of kindness start.
I'll tell thee—'tis with joy to read
The language of the heart,
When in the silent, speaking eye,
Expressive of the smother'd sigh,
The tears of kindness start.
81
Compar'd with joy like this, how poor
Are countless heaps of shining ore,
Or fashion's giddy dream?
Ambition's meteors glide away,
Nor can Aurora's self display
So pure, so bright a beam.
Are countless heaps of shining ore,
Or fashion's giddy dream?
Ambition's meteors glide away,
Nor can Aurora's self display
So pure, so bright a beam.
In sorrow's dark and stormy night,
Love's heavenly influence can delight
And cheer the drooping heart;
And in bright joy's ecstatic hour,
It can, with soul subduing power,
Redoubled bliss impart.
Love's heavenly influence can delight
And cheer the drooping heart;
And in bright joy's ecstatic hour,
It can, with soul subduing power,
Redoubled bliss impart.
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