Thy tender care, thy faithful love, I fondly dar'd presage Perennial founts of bliss would prove, To life's remotest stage! What tho' her golden gifts to share, Still Fortune had deny'd; 'And doom'd the chilling frowns to bear And ills in life too plenteous found, Thy smiles, I hop'd, for every wound A cordial balm to find! Scenes with domestic sweets endu'd, And oft, in Fancy's mirror view'd Entranc'd in pleasing reveries, The smiling race carest; And scarce, absorb'd in dreams like these, The starting tear supprest! Must those enchanting scenes I drew, Delight my soul no more? Must thou, my infant Anna, too, A parent's loss deplore? Deign, Pow'r Supreme! my pray'rs to hear, Her mate, her lovely babe, to cheer, "Nor shall thy pray'rs ascend in vain ;" (So flatt'ring Hope replies ;) "Soon health shall tint her cheeks again, "And sparkle in her eyes!" Elate th' enliv'ning strains I greet, To soothe my sorrows given; And, with anticipation sweet, Await the will of heav'n! ODE TO HEALTH. PARENT of earthly blessings, Health, Who often fleest the abode of wealth, And deign'st in humble guise to dwell, Beneath the peasant's homely cell; Hear, and thy choicest influence shed Around thy fervent suppliant's head: Alike confess'd through every stage, From youth's gay spring to wintry age, Thy soul-enliv'ning pow'r be shown, The rich, the splendid, or the great? And temp'rance o'er his meals presides. Thine is the rosy dimpled cheek, The winning smile, the aspect meek, The cheerful heart, the soul refin'd, And life becomes a dreary waste. FLAVILLA. LONG time Flavilla, lovely maid, Long felt the pangs of hapless love: Ye blooming maids, who long to prove, Ah! greatly cautious shun the snare! Long Damon strove my heart to gain, With flattery woo'd,-nor woo'd in vain; Too lovely, charming youth! With ardour oft my lips he prest, And clasp'd me panting to his breast, And vow'd eternal truth. |