5. When thou wert changed, they alter'd too; SONNET. TO GENEVRA. THINE eyes blue tenderness, thy long fair hair, And the wan lustre of thy features-caught From contemplation-where serenely wrought, Seems Sorrow's softness charm'd from its despairHave thrown such speaking sadness in thine air, That--but I know thy blessed bosom fraught With mines of unalloy'd and stainless thought-I should have deem'd thee doom'd to earthly care. With such an aspect, by his colours blent, When from his beauty-breathing pencil born, (Except that thou hast nothing to repent) The Magdalen of Guido saw the morn→ Such seem'st thou-but how much more excellent! With nought Remorse can claim-nor Virtue scorn. SONNET. TO GENEVRA. THY cheek is pale with thought, but not from wo, And yet so lovely, that if Mirth could flush Its rose of whiteness with the brightest blush, My heart would wish away that ruder glow :And dazzle not thy deep-blue eyes-but oh! While gazing on them sterner eyes will gush, And into mine my mother's weakness rush, Soft as the last drops round heaven's airy bow. For, through thy long dark lashes low depending, The soul of melancholy Gentleness Gleams like a seraph from the sky descending, INSCRIPTION ON THE MONUMENT OF A NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. WHEN Some proud son of man returns to earth, Unknown to glory, but upheld by birth, of wo, The sculptor's art exhausts the pomp Not what he was, but what he should have been; Thy love is lust, thy friendship all a cheat, Thy smiles hypocrisy, thy words deceit ! Each kindred brute might bid thee blush for shame. -it honours none you wish to mourn: Pass on To mark a friend's remains these stones arise, VOL. IV. Newstead Abbey, Oct. 30, 1808. FAREWELL. FAREWELL! if ever fondest prayer But waft thy name beyond the sky. "Twere vain to speak, to weep, to sigh: Oh! more than tears of blood can tell, When wrung from guilt's expiring eye, Are in that word-Farewell!-Farewell! These lips are mute, these eyes are dry ; The thought that ne'er shall sleep again. 1. BRIGHT be the place of thy soul ! In the orbs of the blessed to shine. On earth thou wert all but divine, As thy soul shall immortally be; And our sorrow may cease to repine, When we know that thy God is with thee. 2. Light be the turf of thy tomb! May its verdure like emeralds be: There should not be the shadow of gloom, In aught that reminds us of thee. Young flowers and an evergreen tree May spring from the spot of thy rest: But nor cypress nor yew let us see; For why should we mourn for the blest? 1. WHEN We two parted In silence and tears, Half broken-hearted To sever for years, Pale grew thy cheek and cold, Colder thy kiss; Truly that hour foretold Sorrow to this. |