That, unconscious, with a sigh, If thou wert tuneful as sincere, SONNET EMBARKING ON THE PO, IN HIS WAY TO VERONA. WELL may'st thou bear these limbs, majestic Po, At will, upon thy powerful, rapid waves; But the free spirit that informs them braves The strong compulsion of all power below, And without need of skill, the way to show T2 To that bless'd branch,* whose presence still it craves, Hastening, itself with outstretch'd pinions saves From thee, though wind and oars their aid bestow. Great king of rivers, proud, presumptuous stream, That thwart'st† the Sun, when he brings on the day, And leav'st the West, though thence more ra diance beam; Thou what is mortal of me may'st convey; * Of laurel, i. e. Laura. + The course of the Po being east, it moved towards the sun, and from Laura. SONNET TRAVELLING HOMEWARDS FROM ITALY, ON THE BANKS OF THE RHONE. O RAPID flood, that, from thy fountain hoarse, Through Alpine deserts gnawing,* whence thy name, Advancest, night and day, our path the same, * Deriving it from the Latin and Italian, "rodere. " Kiss her light feet, or hand, among those bowers. Tell her (and let that kiss, like language say) "My will is prompt, but tardy are my powers."* SONNET ON THE GRIEF OF LAURA, SUPPOSED FOR THE DEATH OF HER MOTHER, I saw a simple mortal shew, at will, The recollection dear, though sad, is grown, * The scriptural expression is here softened. Grace, Feeling, Prudence, Dignity, and Grief, SONNET CN A DISTINCTION SHEWN TO LAURA BY A PRINCE, SUPPOSED TO BE CHARLES SON OF ONE of rare powers, as of a royal race, |