MATERNAL FONDNESS.

[From Dr. DARWIN's Botanic Garden.]

"S%

when the Mother, bending o'er his charms,
Clafps her fair nurfeling in delighted arms;
Throws the thin kerchief from her neck of snow,
And half unveils the pearly orbs below;
With fparkling eye the blameless Plunderer owns
Her foft embraces, and endearing tones,
Seeks the falubrious fount with opening lips,
Spreads his inquiring hands, and smiles, and fips.

Connubial Fair! whom no fond transport warms To lull your infant in maternal arms;

Who, blefs'd in vain with tumid bofoms, hear
His tender wailings with unfeeling ear;
The foothing kifs and milky rill deny,

To the fweet pouting lip, and glistening eye!-
Ah! what avails the cradle's damafk roof,
The eider bolster, and embroider'd woof!—
Oft hears the gilded couch unpity'd plains,
And many a tear the taffel'd cufhion ftains!
No voice fofweet attunes his cares to reft,
So foft no pillow as his Mother's breast!—
-Thus charm'd to fweet repofe, when twilight hours
Shed their foft influence on celeftial bowers,

The Cherub, Innocence, with smile divine

Shuts his white wings, and sleeps on Beauty's fhrine.

WOMAN'S HARD FATE. By a Lady.

How wretched is poor woman's fate!

No happy change her fortune knows ; Subject to man in every state,

How can fhe then be free from woes?

In youth, a father's ftern command,
And jealous eyes, controul her will;
A lordly brother watchful ftands,
To keep her closer captive ftill.
The tyrant husband next appears,
With awful and contracted brow;
No more a lover's form he wears:
Her flave's become her fov'reign now.

If from this fatal bondage free,

And not by marriage chains confin'd,

If, bleft with fingle life, the fee

A parent fond, a brother kind

Yet love ufurps her tender breast,
And paints a phenix to her eyes:
Some darling youth disturbs her reft;
And painful fighs in fecret rise.

Oh cruel pow'rs, fince you've defigned,
That man, vain man, fhould bear the fway,
To flavish chains and flavish mind,

That I may thus your will obey,

G

THE SIGH.

ENTLE air! thou breath of lovers!
Vapor from a fecret fire,

Which by thee itself difcovers

E're yet daring to afpire.

Softeft note of whifper'd anguifh!
Harmony's refined part;
Striking, while thou feem'ft to languish,
Full upon the lift'ner's heart.
Softeft meffenger of paffion!"

Stealing through a croud of spies,
Which constraint the outward fashion,
Clofe the lips and guard the eyes.
Shapelefs SIGH! we ne'er can fhew thee,
Form'd but to assault the ear;

Yet, e'er to their coft they know thee,
Every nymph may read thee here.

ANACREON.

ODE 40-IMITATED.

NCE a Bee, unfeen while fleeping,

Orouch by Love, from rofe buds creeping,

Stung the Boy, who blood efpying
On his finger, fell a-crying:

Then both feet and pinions ftraining
Flew to Venus, thus complaining.

"Oh! mamma, mamma, I'm dying, Me a little dragon spying,

Which the ploughman-tribe, fo ftupid,
Call a bee, has bit your Cupid."

"Ah! quoth Venus, smiling fhrewdly,
If a beé can wound fo rudely,
Cupid, think how sharp the forrows,
Caus'd by thy envenom'd arrows.

3 9015 06547 1891