Therefore, farewell, old Granta's spires: No more thy theme my muse inspires: 1806 ON A DISTANT VIEW OF THE VILLAGE AND SCHOOL OF HARROW-ON-THE-HILL. "O! mihi præteritos referat si Jupiter annos."-VIRGIL. YE scenes of my childhood, whose loved recollection Of comrades, in friendship and mischief allied; Again I revisit the hills where we sported, The streams where we swam, and the fields where we fought; The school, where, loud warn'd by the bell, we resorted, To pore o'er the precepts by pedagogues taught. Again I behold where for hours I have ponder'd, As reclining, at eve, on yon tombstone I lay; I once more view the room, with spectators surrounded, Or, as Lear, I pour'd forth the deep imprecation, Ye dreams of my boyhood, how much I regret you! To Ida full oft may remembrance restore me, But if, through the course of the years which await me, I will say, while with rapture the thought shall elate me • A oontemporary of Garrick. famous for his performance of Zangs 1806 TO M On! did those eyes, instead of fire, For thou art form'd so heavenly fair, When Nature stamp'd thy beauteous birth, The skies might claim thee for their own; Therefore, to guard her dearest work, These might the boldest sylph appal, But who can dare thine ardent gaze! "Tis said that Berenice's hair In stars adorns the vault of heaven; For did those eyes as planets roll, Thy sister-lights would scarce appear: E'en suns, which systems now control, TO WOMAN. WOMAN! experience might have told me, O memory! thou choicest blessing, When join'd with hope, when still possessing; Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, To twinkle in their spheres till they return."--SHAKSPRALE Woman, that fair and foud deceiver, "Woman! thy vows are traced in sand." TO M. S. G. WHEN I dream that you love me, you'll surely forgive; Extend not your anger to sleep; For in visions alone your affection can live, I rise, and it leaves me to weep. Then, Morpheus! envelop my faculties fast, Shed o'er me your languor benign; Should the dream of to-night but resemble the last, What rapture celestial is mine! They tell us that slumber, the sister of death, Mortality's emblem is given : To fate how I long to resign my frail breath, If this be a foretaste of heaven! Ah! frown not, sweet lady, unbend your soft brow, If I sin in my dream, I atone for it now, Though in visions, sweet lady, perhaps you may smile, When dreams of your presence my slumbers beguile, To awake will be torture sufficient. TO MARY, ON RECEIVING HER PICTURE. THIS faint resemblance of thy charms, This line is almost a uteral translation from a Spanish proverb. Here I can trace the locks of gold Which round thy snowy forehead wave, Here I can trace-ah, no! that eye, Must all the painter's art defy, And bid him from the task retire. Here I behold its beauteous hue; But where's the beam so sweetly straying, Which gave a lustre to its blue, Like Luna o'er the ocean playing? Sweet copy far more dear to me, Save her who placed thee next my heart. She placed it, sad, with needless fear, Lest time might shake my wavering soul, Unconscious that her image there Held every sense in fast control. Through hours, through years, through time, 'twill cheer; In life's last conflict 'twill appear, TO LESBIA. LESBIA! since far from you I've ranged, Your polish'd brow no cares have cross'd; Sixteen was then our utmost age, Two years have lingering past away, love ! "Tis I that am alone to blame, I, that am guilty of love's treason; 1 do not, love! suspect your truth, One trace of dark deceit it leaves not. No, no, my flame was not pretended; No more we meet in yonder bowers; Your cheek's soft bloom is unimpair'd, The forge of love's resist.less lightning. Arm'd thus to make their bosoms bleed, LINES ADDRESSED TO A YOUNG LADY, WHO HAD BEEN ALARMED BY A BULLET FIRED BY THE AUTEO DOUBTLESS, sweet girl! the hissing lead, And hurtling o'er thy lovely head,* Surely some envious demon's force, Yes! in that nearly fatal hou The ball obey'd some hell-born guide; Yet, as perchance one trembling tear Say, what dire penance can atone This word is used by Gray, in his poem to the Fatal Sister Hurtles through the darken'd air." |