134 promise of sunshine, not so prone to fail. TO CAPEL LOFFT ESQ. H. K. WHITE OFFT, unto thee one tributary song the simple Muse, admiring, fain would bring; she longs to lisp thee to the listening throng, and with thy name to bid the woodlands ring. Fain would she blazon all thy virtues forth, thy warm philanthropy, thy justice mild, would say how thou didst foster kindred worth, and to thy bosom snatched Misfortune's child: firm she would paint thee, with becoming zeal, upright and learned as the Pylian sire, would say how sweetly thou couldst sweep the lyre, and show thy labours for the public weal, ten thousand virtues tell with joys supreme, but ah! she shrinks abashed before the arduous theme. H. K. WHITE 135 SWEE TO CONSUMPTION WEET to the gay of heart is Summer's smile, sweet the wild music of the laughing Spring; but ah! my soul far other scenes beguile, where gloomy storms their sullen shadows fling. raise the soft music of the warbling wire, and melancholy wastes the vital fire? Away with thoughts like these!-To some lone cave where howls the shrill blast and where sweeps the wave, direct my steps; there, in the lonely drear, I'll sit remote from worldly noise and muse, till through my soul shall Peace her balm infuse, F. S. II. H. K. WHITE 4 136 WHA THE PAINS OF MEMORY HAT time my heart unfolded its fresh leaves in spring-time gay, and scattered flowers around, a whisper warned of earth's unhealthy ground, and all that there faith's light and pureness grieves; sun's ray and canker-worm, and sudden-whelming storm :— but, ah! my self-will smiled, nor recked the gracious sound. So now defilement dims life's morning springs; I cannot hear an early-cherished strain, not without hope, this breast may one day lose its load, and youth yet bloom again. LYRA APOSTOLICA 137 138 HOPE OW sober Cynthia spreads her lucid beam, N with quivering ray the silent glen pervades, tints the brown wood that crowns yon silvery stream, 'tis thus, sweet Hope! through sorrow's blasting day give to departing joy a lingering ray and cheer with promised good the drooping heart; with radiant hands life's sable clouds remove, and ere the future dawns its blessings prove. WHY TO DEATH HY art thou slow, thou rest of trouble, Death, to stop a wretch's breath, that calls on thee and offers her sad heart a prey unto thy dart? 139 140 I am nor young nor fair; be, therefore, bold: deformed and wrinkled; all that I can crave Such as live happy hold long life a jewel; if thou end not my tedious misery; Strike, and strike home, then: pity unto me, P. MASSINGER AD SEIPSVM DE ADVENTV HYEMIS SUMMER'S last lingering rose is flown, the leaf has withered from the tree; The north wind's rage soft Zephyr flies; Then quit we too the rural plain; till spring, with coronal so gay, Farewell ye flowers, ye streams, and thou I go but leave my spirit here. F. WRANGHAM TO VIOLETS WELCOME, maids of Honour, you do bring in the spring; and wait upon her. She has Virgins many, yet you are more sweet than any. 141 142 Ye are the maiden posies, to be plac'd 'fore damask roses. Yet though thus respected, by and by ye do lie, poor girls, neglected. R. HERRICK THE RULE OF LOVE ND said I that my limbs were old; in hamlets, dances on the green. OF THE SEA SIR W. SCOTT OR lo the Sea that fleets about the land, music and measure both doth understand; Sometimes his proud green waves in order set, and to make known his courtly love the more, 143 HARK! whence that rushing sound? 'tis like the wondrous strain that round a lonely ruin swells, which, wandering on the echoing shore, those lines of rainbow light are like the moonbeams when they fall 144 145 P. B. SHELLEY A NIGHT-PIECE ON DEATH OR can the parted body know, N° nor wants the soul, these forms of woe; NOT TO ENGLAND OT yet enslaved, not wholly vile, (those grassy hills, those glittering dells, T. PARNELL |