******************** The BLACKBIRDS. An Elegy, By the fame. HE fun had chas'd the mountain fnow, TH And kindly loos'd the frozen foil, The melting streams began to flow, 'Twas then, amid the vocal throng O faireft of the feather'd train! For whom I fing, for whom I burn, For fee the wintry ftorms are flown, Let us the genial influence own, Let us the vernal paftime share. The raven plumes his jetty wing And tell their paffion as they foar, But But trust me, love, the raven's wing As I, who strength with sweetness join. O! let me all thy steps attend! I'll point new treasures to thy fight; I'll fhew my love the cleareft rill Whose streams among the pebbles ftray, I'll lead her to the thickest brake, When prompted by a mother's care, Her warmth shall form th' imprisoned young; The pleafing task I'll gladly share, Or cheer her labours with my fong. To bring her food I'll range the fields, And And when my lovely mate would stray Then prove with me the sweets of love, He ceas'd his fong. The melting dame He led her to the nuptial bower, Next morn he wak'd her with a fong, Together thro' the fields they stray'd, And to the murm'ring riv'let's fide; Renew'd their vows, and hopp'd and play'd, With honeft joy, and decent pride." When When oh! with grief the Muse relates A gunner met them in the vale. Alarm'd the lover cry'd, My dear, At him the gunner took his aim; Divided pair! forgive the wrong, While I with tears your fate rehearse I'll join the widow's plaintive fong, And fave the lover in my verse. **{*}*{*}*<*>*<*}*<*}X{*}X{*}*X The RAKE. By a Lady in NEW ENGLAND. Video meliora proboque, Deteriora fequor. N open heart, a generous mind, But paffion's flave, and wild as wind; HOR. In theory, a judge of right; So loose, so proftitute of foul, His nobler wit becomes the tool. A thousand virtues mifapply'd; While reason floats on paffion's tide: The parent's curfe, the virgin's fnare: The young, the thoughtless, and the gay: He knows, he fees, he feels his fault; A wretched, felf-condemning creature, } FLOWER S. |