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CANZONA.

FRAGMENT XXXII."

I.

OH! should I fly from the world, Love, to thee,

Would solitude render me dearer?

Would our flight from the world draw thee closer

to me,

Or render thy passion sincerer ?

P Trifling one evening at the piano forte, I accidentally produced a simple melody that pleased me, and, before I left the instrument, adapted to it the few ideas to be found in the above fragment. It was a maxim of one of the ancients, that no plea

Would the heart thou hast touch'd more tumult

'ously beat

Than when its wild pulse fear'd detection?

Would the bliss unrestrain'd be more poignantly

sweet

Than the bliss snatch'd by timid affection?

II.

Though silence and solitude breathed all around, And each cold law of prudence was banish'd,

sure was so dangerous as that which proceeded from the approbation of a friend: and the partiality with which this little unprovisatore effort was received in the limited and social circle to whom it was first sung, induced me to publish and dedicate it to her whose taste and sanction procured it a reception in the world it could never otherwise have obtained

To the Lady Charlotte Homan.

Though each wish of the heart and the fancy was

crown'd,

We should sigh for those hours that are vanish'd.

When in secret we suffer'd, in secret were blest, Lest the many should censure our union;

And an age of restraint, when oppos'd and op

prest,

Was repaid by a moment's communion.

[II.

When virtue's pure tear dew'd our love's kindling

beam

It hallow'd the bliss it repented;

When a penitent sigh breath'd o'er passion's wild

dream

It absolv'd half the fault it lamented:

K

And how thrillingly sweet was each pleasure we

stole,

In spite of each prudent restriction,

When the soul unrestrain'd met its warm kindred

soul,

And we laugh'd at the world's interdiction!

IV.

Then fly, oh my love! to the world back with me,

Since the bliss it denies it enhances,

Since dearest the transient delight shar'd with

thee,

Which is snatch'd from the world's prying

glances:

Nor talk thus of death till the warm thrill of

love

From each languid breast is retreating;

Then may the life pulse of each heart cease to

move

When love's vital throb has ceas'd beating.

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