He reigns the lord of every mortal heart: That e'er excited joy, or bade a bosom smart. Light as the wind, wild as the wave, A fire that freezes and a frost that's hot; His tongue is with persuasion tipp'd; [sight. He binds, and so conceals his faults from his own He has two cheeks of blushing red; He has two wings which still are spread, When most his stay is wish'd, most swift to fly: He joys in wanton tricks and wiles, And mark! that when he sweetest smiles, Then is the rogue most sure those tricks and wiles to try. For well, alas! too well I know, To faith a stranger, 'gainst contrition steel'd; And kindled in my heart a flame, Who had believed deceit in such a form conceal'd! He begged so gently on my breast Awhile his little head to rest! He seem'd so good, so grateful, and so meek! He said, he long had sought around A resting place-but none had found!' And then I saw a tear pearl down his rosy cheek. Who could, unmoved, his accents hear? But since I find his friends most true I'll take dear-bought Conviction's sage advice, He shall no more my trust betray, Observe, whoe'er shall buy this boy, Of fainting Virtue's last pure tears, Of treacherous smiles, and oaths which perjured lovers swore: Of torches, their unsteady fires Of worn out wings; of broken darts, Of fond forsaken maids!-Come buy! come buy! come buy! But see him now for pardon sue! See, how his eye of glossy blue With mingled hope and grief he lifts to me. Convinced by that forgiving kiss, That I can never part from Julia and from thee. M. G. LEWIS. TO MISS SARAH FOWLER. WHEN first Aurora's gorgeous car Springs from night's dreary vault released, And beauty's consecrated star Retires behind the blushing east, Can Titan's orient beams dispense A more propitious influence To animate the' exulting earth Not in the solitary gloom, By the dim taper's sickly ray, Where Poesy erects her seat, The myrtle's fragrant branches twine. Beneath the Pleasures' nimble feet Upstarts the new born columbine. VOL. III. Ꮓ Methinks I see the jocund band The rose's aromatic bloom Adorns their wild fantastic grove, And o'er the violet's perfume Angelic forms delighted rove; Fair Sappho in Elysian bowers Beguiles the gently stealing hours, And soothes entranced Despair to rest; Her strains so feelingly express The force of elegant distress, Implanted in a female breast. Careless tripping o'er the green The sprightly Deshoulieres appears With winning air and brow serene, Unclouded by the frown of years; Around the Nymph in graceful state A thousand smiling Cupids wait, And each performs his destined part; Some give the cheeks a livelier glow, Some tune the lyre, some twang the bow, To pierce the most obdurate heart. The plaintive Rowe, whose warbling breath O'erhung the sickening vales of Frome, To the soft Cyprian lute recites The fears, the hopes, the fond delights, The tender blandishments of love, Their mutual happiness completing, Where Innocence and Pleasure meeting Have fix'd them in the realms above. Beside them Cytherea stands In Virtue's snowy garb array'd, Severed by Death's remorseless blade: To' unlock Castalia's vaunted spring: The bright Sabrina joys to hear: She, blameless Nymph, whose piteous doom Poetic annalists relate, Immersed in Severn's watery tomb By Guendoline's remorseless hate, |