14. Alas! whenever folly calls Where parasites and princes meet, (For cherish'd first in royal halls, The welcome vices kindly greet) 15. Ev'n now thou'rt nightly seen to add 16. There dost thou glide from fair to fair, That taint the flowers they scarcely taste. 17. But say, what nymph will prize the flame Which seems, as marshy vapours move, To flit along from dame to dame, An ignis-fatuus gleam of love? 18. What friend for thee, howe'er inclined, Will deign to own a kindred care? Who will debase his manly mind, For friendship every fool may share? 19. In time forbear; amidst the throng Be something, any thing, but-mean. TO * 1. WELL! thou art happy, and I feel 2. Thy husband's blest-and 'twill impart 3. When late I saw thy favourite child, 4. I kiss'd it, and repress'd my sighs And they were all to love and me. 5. Mary, adieu! I must away: While thou art blest I'll not repine; But near thee I can never stay; My heart would soon again be thine. 6. I deem'd that time, I deem'd that pride Had quench'd at length my boyish flame; Nor knew, till seated by thy side, My heart in all, save hope, the same. 7. Yet was I calm: I knew the time My breast would thrill before thy look; But now to tremble were a crimeWe met, and not a nerve was shook. 8. I saw thee gaze upon my face, Yet meet with no confusion there: One only feeling could'st thou trace; The sullen calmness of despair. 9. Away! away! my early dream Remembrance never must awake: Oh! where is Lethe's fabled stream? FROM THE PORTUGUESE. In moments to delight devoted, My life!" with tend'rest tone, you cry; Dear words! on which my heart had doted, If youth could neither fade nor die. IMPROMPTU, IN REPLY TO A FRIEND. WHEN from the heart where Sorrow sits; And o'er the changing aspect flits, And clouds the brow, or fills the eye; Heed not that gloom, which soon shall sink: |