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, Oh! think not my penance deficient ! When dreams of your presence my slumbers beguile, To awake will be torture sufficient. TO MARY, ON RECEIVING HER PICTURE. (1) THIS faint resemblance of thy charms, Here I can trace the locks of gold Here I can trace-ah, no! that eye, Must all the painter's art defy, And bid him from the task retire. (1) Of this "Mary," who is not to be confounded with the heiress of Annesley, or "Mary" of Aberdeen, all that has been ascertained is, that she was of an humble, if not equivocal, station in life, and that she had long light golden hair," of which," says Moore," he used to show a lock, as well as her picture, among his friends."- E. Here I behold its beauteous hue; But where's the beam so sweetly straying (1) Which gave a lustre to its blue, Like Luna o'er the ocean playing? Sweet copy! far more dear to me, Than all the living forms could be, 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; My hope, in gloomy moments, raise; In life's last conflict 'twill appear, And meet my fond expiring gaze. TO LESBIA. LESBIA! since far from you I've ranged, You say 'tis I, not you, have changed, I'd tell you why, (1) In the private volume but yet I know not. But where's the beam of soft desire? Which gave a lustre to its blue, Love, only love, could e'er inspire. — E. Your polish'd brow no cares have crost; Sixteen was then our utmost age, Two years have lingering past away, love! And now new thoughts our minds engage, At least I feel disposed to stray, love! 'Tis I that am alone to blame, I, that am guilty of love's treason; Since your sweet breast is still the same, Caprice must be my only reason. I do not, love! suspect your truth, No, no, my flame was not pretended; No more we meet in yonder bowers; But older, firmer hearts than ours Your cheek's soft bloom is unimpair'd, New beauties still are daily bright'ning, Your eye for conquest beams prepared, Arm'd thus, to make their bosoms bleed, LINES ADDRESSED TO A YOUNG LADY. [As the author was discharging his pistols in a garden, two ladies passing near the spot were alarmed by the sound of a bullet hissing near them; to one of whom the following stanzas were addressed the next morning.] (1) DOUBTLESS, Sweet girl! the hissing lead, Surely some envious demon's force, Yes! in that nearly fatal hour The ball obey'd some hell-born guide; But Heaven, with interposing power, In pity turn'd the death aside. (1) The occurrence took place at Southwell, and the beautiful lady to whom the lines were addressed was Miss Houson.-E. (2) This word is used by Gray, in his poem to the Fatal Sisters : "Iron sleet of arrowy shower Hurtles through the darken'd air." Yet, as perchance one trembling tear Say, what dire penance can atone Might I perform the judge's part, The sentence I should scarce deplore ; It only would restore a heart Which but belong'd to thee before. The least atonement I can make But thou, perhaps, may'st now reject Come then, some other mode elect; Choose then, relentless! and I swear Nought shall thy dread decree prevent; Yet hold one little word forbear! Let it be aught but banishment. |