SONNET. WHENE'ER, among the comrades of the dame, Bright Love approaches in her beauteous mien, As much as each beneath her charms are seen, Swells my desire, and grows the excited flame. The place, and hour, when Excellence first came To lift my view, recall'd, I bless the scene; And say, "my soul, that such thy boast has been, "To the kind gods unmeasured thanks proclaim. "From her the love-created Fancies spring, "That point to Heaven's perfection, and calm joy; "Not to the unworthy cares that man employ: "From her derived, do the pure raptures buoy "Thy thought, and lift thee to the immortal ring; "Which yet I seek, on Hope's aspiring wing." SESTINA.* To every animal that dwells on earth, But, when the heavens are lighted by the stars, And I, as soon as I behold the morn Dispersing round the dews and shades o'er earth, *The lines of the Sestina terminate, in every stanza, in the same words, of two syllables; but, from the structure of an Italian verse, those words seem properly rendered by a monosyllable in English. When dusky evening then succeeds the day, That fashion'd me from much too feeling earth; I truly think no beast has, in the woods, Before I may ascend to you, bright stars, With her first witness'd by the setting sun, Might I remain, and only see the stars During one night, and might it ne'er be morn; But deep in earth, my coffin from the woods SONNET ON SENDING TO A FRIEND A PAIR OF PIGEONS, WHICH, BEING THEN FREQUENTLY EMPLOY ED IN FIELD SPORTS, HE HAD CAUGHT WITH NETS. FREE, at the foot of that well-peopled hill,* * Where Avignon was situated. She troubled, waking oft, and weeping still, SONNET TRAVELLING THROUGH THE FOREST OF ARDEN. THROUGH this inhospitable, shaggy wild, I pass securely, whom my Sun alarms Alone, Love's dreaded influence beaming mild: |