Fugitive Pieces Part 10

No specious splendour of this stone, Endears it to my memory ever, With l.u.s.tre _only once_ it shone, But blushes modest as the giver.

2.

Some who can sneer at friends.h.i.+p's ties, Have for my weakness oft reprov'd me, Yet still the simple gift I prize, For I am sure, the giver lov'd me.

3.

He offered it with downcast look, As _fearful_ that I might refuse it, I told him when the gift I took, My _only fear_ should be to lose it.

4.

This pledge attentively I view'd, And _sparkling_ as I held it near, Methought one drop the stone bedew'd, And ever since _I've lov'd a tear_.

5.

Still to adorn his humble youth, Nor wealth nor birth their treasures yield, But he who seeks the flowers of truth, Must quit the garden for the field.

6.

'Tis not the plant uprear'd in sloth, Which beauty shews, and sheds perfume, The flowers which yield the most of both, In nature's wild luxuriance bloom.

7.

Had Fortune aided nature's care, For once forgetting to be blind, _His_ would have been an ample share, If well proportioned to his mind.

8.

But had the G.o.ddess clearly seen, His form had fixed her fickle breast, _Her_ countless h.o.a.rds would _his_ have been, And none remain'd to give the rest.

TO A. ----

Oh! did those eyes instead of fire, With bright, but mild affection s.h.i.+ne, Though they might kindle less desire, Love, more than mortal, would be thine.

2.

For thou art form'd so heavenly fair, _Howe'er_ those orbs _may_ wildly beam, We _must_ admire, but still despair, That fatal glance forbids esteem.

3.

When nature stamp'd thy beauteous birth, So much perfection in thee shone, She fear'd, that too divine for earth, The skies might claim thee for their own.

4.

Therefore to guard her dearest work, Lest angels might dispute the prize, She bade a secret lightning lurk, Within those once celestial eyes.

5.

These might the boldest Sylph appal, When gleaming with meridian blaze, Thy beauty must enrapture all, But who can dare thine ardent gaze?

6.

'Tis said that Berenice's hair, In stars adorns the vault of heaven, But they would ne'er permit _thee_ there, _Thou_ would'st so far outs.h.i.+ne the seven.

7.

For did those eyes as planets roll, Thy sister lights would scarce appear, E'en suns which systems now controul, Would twinkle dimly through their sphere.

_Friday, Nov. 7th_, 1806.

AS THE AUTHOR WAS DISCHARGING HIS PISTOLS IN A GARDEN, TWO LADIES Pa.s.sING NEAR THE SPOT, WERE ALARMED BY THE SOUND OF A BULLET HISSING NEAR THEM. TO ONE OF WHOM THE FOLLOWING VERSES ON THE OCCASION, WERE ADDRESSED THE NEXT MORNING.

1.

Doubtless, sweet girl, the hissing lead, Wafting destruction near thy charms, And hurtling[13] o'er thy lovely head, Has fill'd that breast with fond alarms.

2.

Surely some envious Demon's force, Vex'd to behold such beauty here, Impell'd the bullet's viewless course, Diverted from its first career.

3.

Yes! in that nearly fatal hour, The ball obey'd some h.e.l.l-born guide, But Heaven with interposing power, In pity turn'd the death aside.

4.

Yet, as perchance one trembling tear, Upon that thrilling bosom fell, Which _I_, th' unconscious cause of fear, Extracted from its glistening cell;--

5.

Say, what dire penance can atone?

For such an outrage done to thee, Arraign'd before thy beauty's throne, What punishment wilt thou decree?

6.

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.

7.

The least atonement, I can make, Is to become no longer free, Henceforth, I breathe, but for thy sake.

Thou shall be _all in all_ to me.