"Most musical, most melancholy" bird! My Sara-best beloved of human kind! When breathing the pure soul of tenderness, 1794. TO CHARLES LAMB. WITH AN UNFINISHED POEM. THUS far my scanty brain hath built the rhyme I, too, a sister had, an only sister She loved me dearly, and I doted on her; To her I poured forth all my puny sorrows, (As a sick patient in a nurse's arms,) And of the heart those hidden maladies That e'en from friendship's eye will shrink ashamed. Of whose omniscient and all-spreading love That my mute thoughts are sad before his throne,- 1794. CASIMIR. IF we except Lucretius and Statius, I know no Latin Poet, ancient or modern, who has equalled Casimir in boldness of conception, opulence of fancy, or beauty of versification. The Odes of this illustrious Jesuit were translated into English about 150 years ago, by a G. Hils, I think. I never saw the translation. A few of the Odes have been translated in a very animated manner by Watts. I have subjoined the third Ode of the Second Book, which, with the exception of the first line, is an effusion of exquisite elegance. In the imitation attempted, I am sensible that I have destroyed the effect of suddenness, by translating into two stanzas what is one in the original. AD LYRAM. SONORA buxi filia sutilis, Sollicitat levis aura frondes. Te sibilantis lenior halitus Perflabit Euri: me juvet interim *"I utterly recant the recant the sentiment contained in the lines Of whose omniscient and all-spreading love Aught to implore were impotence of mind, it being written in Scripture, Ask, and it shall be given to you! and my human reason being convinced, moreover, of the propriety of offering petitions as well as thanksgivings to Deity. S. T. C., 1797. The Odes of Casimir, translated by G. H. (G. Hils.) London, 1646, 12mo. H. N. C. + Had Casimir any better authority for this quantity than Tertullian's line, Immemor ille Dei temere committere tale--? In the classic poets, the last syllable is, I believe, uniformly cut off. H. N. C. Eheu! serenum quæ nebulæ ́tegunt IMITATION. THE solemn-breathing air is ended- On thy wires, hovering, dying, In the forest, hollow-roaring, Hark! I hear a deep'ning sound- Parent of the soothing measure, Let me seize thy wetted string! DARWINIANA. THE HOUR WHEN WE SHALL MEET AGAIN. (Composed during Illness and in Absence.) DIM Hour! that sleep'st on pillowed clouds afar, My gentle love! caressing and carest, With heaving heart shall cradle me to rest; Shed the warm tear-drop from her smiling eyes, Lull with fond woe, and med'cine me with sighs; While finely-flushing float her kisses meek, Like melted rubies, o'er my pallid cheek. Chill'd by the night, the drooping rose of May EPIGRAM. HOARSE Mævius reads his hobbling verse To all, and at all times; And finds them both divinely smooth, His voice as well as rhymes. Yet folks say " Mævius is no ass;" An ass without an ear. ON THE CHRISTENING OF A FRIEND'S CHILD. I. THIS day among the faithful placed, And fed with fontal manna, O with maternal title graced— Dear Anna's dearest Anna! II. While others wish thee wise and fair, I'll breathe this more compendious prayer— III. Thy mother's name-a potent spell, That bids the virtues hie From mystic grove and living cell Confess'd to fancy's eye- 1796. 1797. IV. Meek quietness without offence; V. Associates of thy name, sweet child! VI. So, when her tale of days all flown, When Heaven at length shall claim its own, VII. Some hoary-headed friend, perchance, And oft, in momentary trance, VIII. E'en thus a lovely rose I view'd, In summer-swelling pride; Nor mark'd the bud that, green and rude, IX. It chanced, I pass'd again that way, In autumn's latest hour, And wond'ring saw the selfsame spray X. Ah, fond deceit! the rude green bud, Alike in shape, place, name, Had bloom'd, where bloom'd its parent stud, 1796. |