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And oh! he cried-" Of magic kind
What charms this Throne endear!
Some other Love let Venus find-
I'll fix my empire here."

THE KISS.

ONE kiss, dear Maid! I said and sigh'd—
Your scorn the little boon denied.
Ah why refuse the blameless bliss ?
Can danger lurk within a kiss?

Yon viewless Wand'rer of the vale,
The Spirit of the Western Gale,
At Morning's break, at Evening's close
Inhales the sweetness of the Rose,
And hovers o'er th' uninjur'd Bloom
Sighing back the soft perfume.
Vigor to the Zephyr's wing

Her nectar-breathing Kisses fling;
And He the glitter of the Dew
Scatters on the Rose's hue.
Bashful lo! she bends her head,
And darts a blush of deeper Red!

Too well those lovely lips disclose
The Triumphs of the op'ning Rose:
O fair! O graceful! bid them prove
As passive to the breath of Love.
In tender accents, faint and low,
Well-pleas'd I hear the whisper'd "No!'

The whisper'd "No"--how little meant !
Sweet Falsehood, that endears Consent !
For on those lovely lips the while
Dawns the soft relenting smile,

And tempts with feign'd dissuasion coy
The gentle violence of Joy.

TO A YOUNG ASS.

ITS MOTHER BEING TETHERED NEAR IT.

POOR little Foal of an oppressed Race!
I love the languid Patience of thy face:
And oft with gentle hand I give thee bread,
And clap thy ragged Coat, and pat thy head.'
But what thy dulled Spirits hath dismay'd,
That never thou dost sport along the glade?
And (most unlike the nature of things young)
That earth-ward still thy moveless head is hung?
Do thy prophetic Fears anticipate,

Meek Child of Misery! thy future fate ?—
The starving meal, and all the thousand aches
"Which patient Merit of the Unworthy takes ?"
Or is thy sad heart thrill'd with filial pain
To see thy wretched Mother's shorten'd Chain?
And truly, very piteous is her Lot-

Chain'd to a Log within a narrow spot

Where the close-eaten Grass is scarcly seen,

While sweet around her waves the tempting Green! Poor Ass! thy Master should have learnt to shew

Pity-best taught by fellowship of Woe!

For much I fear me, that he lives, like thee,

Half-famish'd in a land of Luxury!

How askingly it's footsteps hither bend?

It seems to say, "And have I then one Friend?"
Innocent Foal! thou poor despis'd Forlorn!
I hail thee Brother-spite of the fool's scorn!
And fain would take thee with me, in the Dell
Of Peace and mild Equality to dwell,

Where Toil shall call the charmer Health his Bride,
And Laughter tickle Plenty's ribless side!
How thou wouldst toss thy heels in gamesome play,
And frisk about as Lamb or Kitten gay!
Yea! and more musically sweet to me

Thy dissonant harsh Bray of Joy would be,
Than warbled Melodies that sooth to rest
The aching of pale Fashion's vacant breast!

DOMESTIC PEACE.

TELL me, on what holy ground
May Domestic Peace be found?
Halcyon Daughter of the skies,
Far on fearful wings she flies,
From the pomp of sceptred State,
From the Rebel's noisy hate.
In a cottag'd vale She dwells
List'ning to the Sabbath bells!
Still around her steps are seen
Spotless Honour's meeker mien,
Love, the sire of pleasing fears,
Sorrow smiling through her tears,
And conscious of the past employ
Memory, bosom spring of joy.

THE SIGH.

WHEN Youth his fairy reign began
Fre Sorrow had proclaimed me man;
While Peace the present hour beguil'd,
And all the lovely Prospect smil'd:
Then, Mary! 'mid my lightsome glee
I heav'd the painless Sigh for thee.
And when, along the waves of woe,
My harass'd Heart was doom'd to know
The frantic Burst of Outrage keen,
And the slow Pang that gnaws unseen;
Then shipwreck'd on Life's stormy sea
I heav'd an anguish'd Sigh for thee!
But soon Reflection's power imprest
A stiller sadness on my breast;
And sickly Hope with waning eye
Was well content to droop and die:
I yielded to the stern decree,
Yet heav'd a languid Sigh for thee!
And tho' in distant climes to roam,
A wanderer from my native home,
I fain would sooth the sense of Care
And lull to sleep the Joys, that were!
Thy Image may not banish'd be--
Still, Mary! still I sigh for thee.

EPITAPH ON AN INFANT.

Ere Sin could blight or Sorrow fade,
Death came with friendly care;
The opening bud to Heaven convey'd

And bade it blossom there.

LINES

WRITTEN AT THE KING'S ARMS, ROSS, FORMERLY THE

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RICHER than Miser o'er his countless hoards,
Nobler than King's, or king-polluted Lords,
Here dwelt the Man of Ross! O Trav'ller, hear!
Departed Merit claims a reverent tear.

Beneath this roof if thy cheer'd moments pass,
Fill to the good man's name one grateful glass:
To higher zest shall Mem'ry wake thy soul,
And Virtue mingle in th' ennobled bowl.

Friend to the Friendless, to the sick man health,
With Generous joy he view'd his modest wealth;
He hears the window's heaven-breath'd prayer of praise,
He marks the shelter'd orphan's tearful gaze,

Or where the sorrow-shrivel'd captive lay.

Pours the bright blaze of Freedom's noon-tide ray.
But if, like me, thro' life's distressful scene
Lonely and sad thy pilgrimage hath been;
And if, thy breast with heart-sick anguish fraught,
Thou journeyest onward tempest-toss'd in thought;
Here cheat thy cares! in generous visions melt,
And dream of Goodness, thou hast never felt!

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