ODE TO FANCY.

OH Thou! whose empire unconfined
Rules all the busy realms of Mind!
The slow-eyed cares thy mild dominion
Confess; if thou thy rod extend,
No more the sharp-fang'd sorrows rend,
But hovering round on frolic pinion
The laughing train of Joys descend.

To soothe the woes of absent love,

Come Fancy! Now, what time above

The full-orb'd Moon, that rose all-glowing,

Begins her lifted lamp to pale;

What time to charm the listening vale,
In liquid warbles fondly-flowing
Laments th' enamor'd Nightingale.

In softly-pleasing light, the Queen
Of Heaven arrays the blue serene ;
Yet lovelier beams the gentle glory

In Anna's azure eyes display'd:

Sweet is the poet of the shade;

Yet sweeter than his warbled story Each sound from Anna's lip convey'd.

Nor haply shall I ever find

That tongue to me alone unkind,
On every grief but mine so ready
To bid the balm of comfort flow;
Nor shall that eye, which every woe
But mine can melt, thus ever steady
To me alone no pity shew.

Like mine, her bosom now may feel
The tender melancholy steal,

Tho' maiden modesty dissemble; And now, while Memory brings again The Muse which first reveal'd my pain, Th' involuntary tear may tremble, And own the triumph of the strain :

So whisphers Hope: by Fancy led
She comes;--with rosy wreaths her head,
With rosy wreaths her sacred anchor

Love intertwines-in vain employ;

For lo! behind th' exulting boy,

With stifled smiles of patient rancour Creeps Mockery, watchful to destroy.

Ah! still, tho' whisper'd to deceive,

Let me thy flatteries, Hope, believe,
Content from Grief one hour to borrow!
Ah! still, if o'er my distant way,
As through the path of Life, I stray,
Hang gathering clouds of future sorrow,
O Fancy! gild them with thy ray!

FORTUNE-TELLING,

WITH CARDS.

DEAR Nancy, if you wish to know

What Fate reserves in store for you,

Ask not the idle cards to show ;

I'll tell as wisely, and as true

For I will take a magic book
Of characters divinely fair;
Upon thy lovely self I'll look,
And read, dear girl, thy fortune there.

By those love-darting eyes I find How many hearts their empire own; I see the sweetness of thy mind

That keeps the hearts those eyes have won :

Yet none, among so many hearts,

Nor any you shall yet subdue,

Should you join all their better parts,

Can make a heart to merit you.

Now, shall I look into your breast And see what heart is favor'd there? No-be that fatal truth suppress'd, Lest I should sink in my despair!

OLIVIA SLEEPING.

THE
HE Night her empire had resign'd,

And bright the Sun his orb display'd,

No more to sleep my eyes inclined,

Yet near my love I still delay'd.

Still blest delay'd; a casual beam
Had glanced the curtain's veil beside,
And pour'd its unexpected gleam

Where lay reposed my bosom's pride.

O'er her I hung, and watch'd the ray
Thro' her loose tresses shadowy wind,
And round that neck soft fade away

Which on my happy arm reclined.

More full, the beam reveal'd to view

The cheek which warm in slumber glow'd,

The lip, which ere I bade adieu,

Look'd as if still it kisses ow'd.