THE

SPARROW.

FROM CATULLUS.

BY FRANCIS FAWKES.

ALL ye gentle powers above,
Venus, and thou god of love;
All ye gentle fouls below,
'That can melt at others woe;
Lefbia's lofs with tears deplore,
Lefbia's fparrow is no more:
Late she wont her bird to prize
Dearer than her own bright eyes.
Sweet it was, and lovely too,
And its mistress well it knew.
Nectar from her lips it fipt,

Here it hopt, and there it skipt:
Oft it wanton'd in the air,

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Chirping only to the fair:

Oft it lull'd its head to reft

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On the pillow of her breast.
Now, alas! it chirps no more;
All its blandifhments are o'er:

* Born 17..; dyed 177 ..

Death has fummon'd it to go
Penfive to the fhades below;
Difmal regions! from whofe bourn
No pale travellers return.
Death! relentless to destroy

All that's form'd for love or joy.
Joy is vanish'd, love is fled,
For my Lefbia's fparrow's dead.
Lo, the beauteous nymph appears
Languifhingly drown'd in tears!

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THE WISH.

BY JAMES MERRICK.

How fhort is life's uncertain space!

Alas! how quickly done!

How swift the wild precarious chace !
And yet how difficult the race!

Youth ftops at firft its wilful ears
To Wifdom's prudent voice;

Till now arriv'd to riper years,

Experienc'd age, worn out with cares,
Repents its earlier choice.

What though its prospects now appear
So pleafing and refin'd;

Yet groundless hope, and anxious fear,
By turns the bufy moments fhare,

And prey upon the mind.

Since then falfe joys our fancy cheat

With hopes of real bliss;

Ye guardian pow'rs that rule my fate,

The only wish that I create

Is all compriz'd in this.

* Born 17..; died 1769.

May I, through life's uncertain tide,

Be ftill from pain exempt;

May all my wants be ftill fupply'd,
My ftate too low t' admit of pride,
And yet above contempt.

But fhould your providence divine.
A greater blifs intend;

May all those bleffings you defign,

(If e'er those bleffings fhall be mine)

Be center'd in a friend.

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TO A LADY.'

WRAPPED ROUND A NOSEGAY OF VIOLETS.

MDCCLXI.

BY JOHN LANGHORNE, D. D.

DEAR object of my late and early prayer!
Source of my joy! and folace of my care!
Whose gentle friendship such a charm can give,
As makes me wifh, and tells me how to live.
To thee the Mufe with grateful hand would bring
These first fair children of the doubtful Spring.
O may they, fearless of a varying sky,

Bloom on thy breast, and smile beneath thine eye!
In fairer lights their vivid blue display,
And fweeter breathe their little lives away!

Born 17..; dyed 1779.

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