May Newton with renew'd delights With juster claims she builds at length Her empire on the sea. And well may boast the waves her strength, Which strength restored to thee. EPITAPH ON MRS. M. HIGGINS, SONNET TO A YOUNG LADY ON HER BIRTH-DAY. DEEM not, sweet rose, that bloom'st 'midst many a thorn, Thy friend, tho' to a cloister's shade consign'd, ON A MISTAKE IN HIS TRANSLATION OF HOMER. COWPER had sinn'd with some excuse, If. bound in rhyming tethers, He had committed this abuse Of changing ewes for wethers;* But, male for female is a trope, Or rather bold misnomer, That would have startled even Pope, ON THE BENEFIT RECEIVED BY HIS O SOVEREIGN of an isle renown'd Her navies wing their way. * I have heard about my wether mutton from various quarters. It was a blunder hardly pardonable in a man who has lived amid fields and meadows, grazed by sheep, ADDRESSED TO MISS — ON READING THE PRAYER FOR INDIFFERENCE* AND dwells there in a female heart, Dwells there a wish in such a breast To smother in ignoble rest At once both bliss and woe! Far be the thought and far the strain, Come, then, fair maid, (in nature wise.) In justice to the various powers With lenient balın my Oberon hence Oh! if my sovereign Author please, And slumber on in state; "Each tender tie of life defied, Whence social pleasures spring, Some Alpine mountain, wrapt in snow, In vain warm suns their influence shed, He rears unchanged his barren head, What though in scaly armor dress'd, The shafts of wo-in such a breast "Tis woven in the world's great plan, almost these thirty years. I have accordingly satirize myself in two stanzas, which I composed last night, while I lay awake, tormented with pain, and well dosed with laudanum. If you find them not very brilliant, therefore, you will know how to account for it.-Letter to Joseph Hill, Esq., dated April 15, 1792. *For Mrs. Greville's Ode, see Annual Register, vol. v. p. 202. That all the true delights of man Should spring from sympathy. "Tis nature bids, and whilst the laws Thus grief itself has comforts dear When virtue bids it flow. For, when it streams from that pure source, To check, or alter from its course, Peace to the phlegm of sullen elves, Let no low thought suggest the prayer, Where'er the heavenly nymph is seen, With lustre-beaming eye, A train, attendant on their queen, The jocund loves in Hymen's band, And generous friendship, hand in hand The gentler virtues too are join'd In youth immortal warm; The soft relations, which, combined, The arts come smiling in the close, And lend celestial fire; The marble breathes, the canvas glows, "Still may my melting bosom cleave "So pity shall take virtue's part, And fashioning my soften'd heart, This artless vow may Heaven receive, So may the rosy-finger'd hours And suns to come, as round they wheel, With all a tender heart can feel, 1762. FROM A LETTER TO THE REV. MR. NEWTON, SAYS the pipe to the snuff-box, I can't understand Do but see what a pretty contemplative air Or at least would suppose them the wise men My breath is as sweet as the breath of blown roses, While you are a nuisance where'er you appear; There is nothing but snivelling and blowing of [hear. noses, Such a noise as turns any man's stomach to Then, lifting his lid in a delicate way, [gaging, And opening his mouth with a smile quite enThe box in reply was heard plainly to say, What a silly dispute is this we are waging! WHEN a bar of pure silver or ingot of gold Alas for the poet! who dares undertake After all he must beat it as thin and as fine EPITAPH ON A FREE BUT TAME REDBREAST, A FAVORITE OF MISS SALLY HURDIS. THESE are not dewdrops these are tears, One morn he came not to her hand Alarm'd, she call'd him, and perplex'd She therefore raised him here a tomb, Had half a score of coxcombs died Poor Sally's tears had soon been dried, But Bob was neither rudely bold Nor was like theirs. his bosom cold, SONNET, ADDRESSED TO WILLIAM HAYLEY, ESQ. HAYLEY-thy tenderness fraternal shown In our first interview, delightful guest! To Mary, and me for her dear sake distress'd, Such as it is, has made my heart thy own, Though heedless now of new engagements grown; For threescore winters make a wintry breast, And I had purposed ne'er to go in quest Of friendship more, except with God alone. But thou hast won me; nor is God my foe, Who, ere this last afflictive scene began, Sent thee to mitigate the dreadful blow, My brother, by whose sympathy I know Thy true deserts infallibly to scan, Not more to admire the bard than love the man. June 2, 1792. But of happier command, Neptune of the furrow'd land; And your wonder vain to shorten, Pointer to Sir John Throckmorton. 1792. ON RECEIVING HAYLEY'S PICTURE In language warm as could be breathed or penn'd Thy picture speaks the original. my friend. Not by those looks that indicate thy mindThey only speak thee friend of all mankind; Expression here more soothing still I see, That friend of all a partial friend to me. January, 1793. ON A PLANT OF VIRGIN'S BOWER. DESIGNED TO COVER A GARDEN-SEAT. THRIVE. gentle plant! and weave a bower And deck with many a splendid flower, Thou camest from Eartham, and wilt shade (If truly I divine) Some future day the illustrious head Should Daphne show a jealous frown Such honor'd brows as they, Thy cause with zeal we shall defend, For why should not the virgin's friend ON RECEIVING HEYNE'S VIRGIL FROM MR. HAYLEY. I SHOULD have deem'd it once an effort vain AN EPITAPH. HERE lies one who never drew Would advance, present, and fire- STANZAS. ADDRESSED TO LADY HESKETH, BY A LADY, In returning a Poem of Mr. Cowper's, lent to the Writer, When Hesketh gave a harsh comman·l, Then take this tempting gift of thine, By pen uncopied yet! But canst thou Memory confine, More lasting than the touch of art, When written by a feeling heart COWPER'S REPLY. To be remember'd thus is fame, And did the few, like her, the same, So Homer, in the mem'ry stor'd Was once preserved-a richer hoard, LINES ADDRESSED TO MISS THEODORA WILLIAM was once a bashful youth, Some said that it was want of sense, But some a different notion had, And at each other winking, Howe'er, it happen'd, by degrees, Nay, now and then, could look quite gay, And sometimes said, or tried to say, A witty thing or so. He eyed the women, and made free So that there was, or seem'd to be, The women said, who thought him rough, "The creature might do well enough, At length improved from head to heel, Now that a miracle so strange May not in vain be shown, Let the dear maid who wrought the change E'en claim him for her own! TO THE SAME. How quick the change from joy to wo, How chequer'd is our lot below! Seldom we view the prospect fair; Dark clouds of sorrow. pain, and care, (Some pleasing intervals between) Scowl over more than half the scene. Last week with Delia, gentle maid! Far hence in happier fields I stray'd. Five suns successive rose and set, Yet ere we look'd our last farewell, LINES ON A SLEEPING INFANT. Soothing slumbers! soft repose, Harmless infant! lull thee still. LINES. OH! to some distant scene, a willing exile INSCRIPTION FOR A MOSS-HOUSE IN HERE, free from riot's hated noise, A book or friend bestows; Far from the storms that shake the great, And sweeten my repose. LINES ON THE DEATH OF SIR WILLIAM DOOM'D, as I am, in solitude to waste * Sir William Russel, the favorite friend of the young poet. See me-ere yet my destin'd course half done, ON THE HIGH PRICE OF FISH. COCOA-NUT naught, No lobster on earth, To me would be worth So. dear madam, wait Till the French and the Dutch TO MRS. NEWTON. A NOBLE theme demands a noble verse, In consequence of which, your welcome boon In consequence of which some chanc'd to die, It goes to London with a swifter pace, Would better suit the carriage of your gift, Returning downward with a pace as swift; And therefore recommends it with this aimTo save at least three days,-the price the same; For though it will not carry or convey [may, For less than twelve pence, send whate'er you For oyster bred upon the salt sea-shore, Pack'd in a barrel, they will charge no more. News have I none that I can deign to write, Save that it rain'd prodigiously last night; And that ourselves were, at the seventh hour, Caught in the first beginning of the show'r; But walking, running, and with much ado, Got home-just time enough to be wet through, Yet both are well, and, wond'rous to be told. Soused as we were, we yet have caught no cold And wishing just the same good hap to you, We say, good Madam, and good Sir, adieu' VERSES PRINTED BY HIMSELF ON A To watch the storms, and hear the sky And no ambition to have more. EXTRACT FROM A SUNDAY-SCHOOL HEAR, Lord, the song of praise and pray'r Thanks for thy word, and for thy day, Thy holy sabbaths more. Thanks that we hear-but, oh! impart That we may listen with our heart, |