Ah! would those happy days return again, Mingled its tears with hers-my widow'd Parent lorn. TO THE MUSE. THO' no bold flights to thee belong; 1789. WITH FIELDING'S AMELIA. VIRTUES and Woes alike too great for man What every wife should be, what many are ON RECEIVING AN ACCOUNT THAT HIS ONLY SISTER'S DEATH WAS INEVITABLE. THE tear which mourn'd a brother's fate scarce dryPain after pain, and woe succeeding woe Is my heart destin'd for another blow? O my sweet sister! and must thou too die? How are ye gone, whom most my soul held dear! Scarce had I lov'd My woes, my joys unshar'd! Ah! long ere then ON SEEING A YOUTH AFFECTIONATELY WELCOMED BY A SISTER. I TOO a sister had! too cruel Death! How sad remembrance bids my bosom heave! Tranquil her soul, as sleeping Infant's breath; Meek were her manners as a vernal Eve. Knowledge, that frequent lifts the bloated mind, Gave her the treasure of a lowly breast, And Wit to venom'd Malice oft assign'd, Dwelt in her bosom in a Turtle's nest. Cease, busy Memory! cease to urge the dart; Nor on my soul her love to me impress! For oh I mourn in anguish-and my heart Feels the keen pang, th' unutterable distress. Yet wherefore grieve I that her sorrows cease, For Life was misery, and the Grave is Peace! THE SAME. I TOO a sister had, an only sister; She lov'd me dearly and I doted on her; To her I pour'd 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 asham'd. O! I have wak'd at midnight and have wept Because she was not. PAIN. ONCE Could the Morn's first beams, the healthful breeze, All nature charm, and gay was every hour:- Ere Tyrant Pain had chas'd away delight, Ere the wild pulse throbb'd anguish thro' the night' LIFE. As late I journied o'er the extensive plain Where native Otter sports his scanty stream, Musing in torpid woe a sister's pain, The glorious prospect woke me from the dream. At every step it widen'd to my sight, Wood, Meadow, verdant Hill, and dreary Steep. Following in quick succession of delight, Till all-at once-did my eye ravish'd sweep! May this (I cried) my course through Life portray! New scenes of wisdom may each step display, And knowledge open as my days advance! Till what time Death shall pour the undarken'd ray, My eye shall dart thro' infinite expanse, And thought suspended lie in rapture's blissful Trance. LINES ON AN AUTUMNAL EVENING. O THOU wild Fancy, check thy wing! No more Those thin white flakes, those purple clouds explore! Nor there with happy spirits speed thy flight Bathed in rich amber-glowing floods of light; |