Poems by Sir John Carr Part 3

A SONG.

THE LOVER

THE LUTE OF HIS DECEASED MISTRESS.

Alas! but like a summer's dream All the delight I felt appears, While mis'ry's weeping moments seem A ling'ring age of tears.

Then breathe my sorrows, plaintive lute!

And pour thy soft consoling tone, While I, a list'ning mourner mute, Will call each tender grief my own.

LINES

WRITTEN IN A COTTAGE BY THE SEA-SIDE

(_In which the Author had taken Shelter during a violent Storm_),

UPON SEEING AN IDIOTIC YOUTH SEATED IN THE CHIMNEY-CORNER, CARESSING A BROOM.

'Twas on a night of wildest storms, When loudly roar'd the raving main,-- When dark clouds shew'd their shapeless forms, And hail beat hard the cottage pane,--

Tom Fool sat by the chimney-side, With open mouth and staring eyes; A batter'd broom was all his pride,-- It was his wife, his child, his prize!

Alike to him if tempests howl, Or summer beam its sweetest day; For still is pleas'd the silly soul, And still he laughs the hours away.

Alas! I could not stop the sigh, To see him thus so wildly stare,-- To mark, in ruins, Reason lie, Callous alike to joy and care.

G.o.d bless thee, thoughtless soul! I cried; Yet are thy wants but very few: The world's hard scenes thou ne'er hast tried; Its cares and crimes to thee are new.

The h.o.a.ry hag[A], who cross'd thee so, Did not unkindly vex thy brain; Indeed she could not be thy foe, To s.n.a.t.c.h thee thus from grief and pain.

Deceit shall never wring thy heart, And baffled hope awake no sighs; And true love, harshly forc'd to part, Shall never swell with tears thine eyes.

Then long enjoy thy batter'd broom, Poor merry fool! and laugh away 'Till Fate shall bid thy reason bloom In blissful scenes of brighter day.

[Footnote A: It is generally believed by the peasants of Devons.h.i.+re that idiotcy is produced by the influence of a witch.]

LINES

_To a Laurel-Leaf_,

SENT TO THE AUTHOR BY MISS ----.

Tho' unknown is the hand that bestow'd thee on me, Sweet leaf! ev'ry fibre I'll warm with a kiss: With the fame of her beauty thou well dost agree, Whose presence shews conquest, whose triumph is bliss!

LINES

OCCASIONED BY THE DEATH OF LIEUTENANT J----,

_Who was killed by a Pistol-Shot_,

ACCIDENTALLY DISCHARGED BY HIS FRIEND,

CAPTAIN B----.

With horror dumb, tho' guiltless, stood Beside his dying friend, The hapless wretch who made the blood Sad from his side descend!

"Give me thy hand; lov'd friend, adieu!"

The gen'rous suff'rer cried!

"I do forgive and bless thee too;"

And, having said it, died!

And Pity, who stood trembling near Knew not for which to shed, So claim'd by both, her saddest tear-- The living or the dead!

LINES

TO AN ACCOMPLISHED YOUNG LADY,

Whose Timidity frequently agitated her, when pressed to gratify her Friends by her Musical Talents.

'Tis said (and I believe it too) That genuine merit seeks the shade; Blus.h.i.+ng to think what is her due, As of her own sweet pow'rs afraid:--

Thus, lovely maid! on fluttering wings, Thy pow'rs a thousand fears pursue, Which, like thy own harmonious strings, When press'd _enchant_, and _tremble_ too!

The pity, which we give, you owe, For mutual fears on both attend; While anxious thus you joy bestow, We fear too soon that joy will end!

LINES

TO MISS L---- D----.